'We just can’t wait anymore': Cork community builds its own flood defences

Residents of Tulligbeg, on the banks of the Owenabue river, have experienced three floods since 2009

The residents of Tulligbeg, Ballinhassig, Cork, applaud excavator drivers Tony Walsh and Darragh Collins for building their flood defence embankment over the last week.

Meet the flood-stricken community who felt so forgotten by the State that they took flood defence work into their own hands.

“We just couldn’t take anymore,” said Denny Finn, as he watched the finishing touches being put on Monday to the huge new embankment which has been built around their homes just outside Ballinhassig, west of Cork City, in just over a week.