Cork hit hardest as calls grow for flood defences

There have been renewed calls for flood defences in Cork after the city and county were hit by flooding for the second night in a row.

In the city, home and business owners escaped major property damage, though water did enter some premises. There were, however, fears that there could be a greater flooding risk when the River Lee reaches high tide at 8am today. Bands of prolonged heavy rainfall have swept along the south and south-west of the country over the last 48 hours.

But Cork was also hit by a combination of low atmospheric pressure and a tidal surge which resulted in extensive localised flooding on the South Mall, Morrison’s Island, Union Quay, South Terrace, George’s Quay, Lavitt’s Quay, and other low-lying areas.