Consultants tasked with identifying root causes

LIMERICK County Council have brought in experts to try and pinpoint the root cause of floods that swamped Newcastle West and Athea on August 1 when the Arra and Galey rivers burst their banks.

As well as rainfall and water levels, the consultants have been asked to identify structures that may have interfered with water flow on both rivers.

A spokesman said: “We have appointed the firm of JBA Consulting to carry out a severity and impact report for both Newcastle West and Athea. This firm has extensive experience of flooding and coastal engineering work, both in Ireland and the UK.