Local Authorities warn 'anywhere that can flood - will flood'

Local authorities are warning that anywhere that can flood - will flood - as Storm Frank approaches.

Communities along the Atlantic coast and the River Shannon are bracing themselves, with up to 70 millimetres of rain and winds of up to 120 kilometres an hour forecast for the South, West and North West.

Four weather warnings are in effect from 11am this morning.

Senior Engineer with Clare County Council Tom Tiernan has said the system is already struggling to cope after Storms Desmond and Eva: “There isn’t much capacity in the system so we are preparing for further flooding, of the type we have had already, twice already, in a significant way over the past few weeks.

There are fears that Storm Frank could lead to the closure of major routes in parts of County Galway today.

A number of local routes across the county are already closed, but it's feared that further flooding due to rising river levels could lead to the closure of major routes.

Council engineers have been working through Christmas, including Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day, to safeguard homes against flooding and to prevent road closures.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm, Loughrea councillor Michael Fahy has said council staff are doing all they can, but places like Craughwell on one of the county's main regional routes are still at risk.