Anja Murray: We cannot continue to ignore Natural Flood Management in Ireland

Flooding on Main Street, Midleton during Storm Babet in October 2023. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Devastating flooding, with huge personal and financial costs to many homes and businesses, affected parts of Cork and Waterford in recent weeks. Heavy rains since then continue to pose a risk of flooding across the country. While it's normal to have a lot of rain at this time of year, more frequent and severe weather events are set to become more commonplace as the Earth’s atmosphere continues to heat up. This is why better planning for how we are going to adapt to climate change is gaining urgency.

The actions of Sorensen in Glanmire during the recent heavy rains helped prevent major flooding in the town. The engineering company is currently working on the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme in the town and was able to divert flood water away from Hazelwood Shopping Centre. Picture: Larry Cummins