Clonmel householders evacuated as flood waters rise

The Army has been brought in to help evacuate some Clonmel residents from their flooded homes, after some people became trapped by rising waters.

Up to 100 houses in the Co Tipperary town have been damaged by rising water overnight.

Secretary of the Old Bridge Residents' Group in Clonmel town Mary Clancy said she is angry that promises made after severe flooding in the town two years ago were not kept.

Mrs Clancy said the town has been flooded for four out of five years, but that because there is no government minister in the area to fight for their cause, they are not prioritized for flood prevention.

Mrs Clancy said that that an original plan put forward to prevent future flood damage was rejected because it was too costly.

She added that no support or financial aid has been given for a second, modified proposal put forward by the town this year which includes an early flood warning scheme and a plan to clean local waterways.

Flooding is affecting many other pockets of the country as well, particularly in Leinster and Munster.