Killarney flash flood sparks demands to repair Kerry town's stormwater system

Pipe replacement for the combined stormwater and sewage system would take seven years, the local authority has said

A deluge of rain, which had not been forecast for the tourist town, swamped properties and caused millions of euro worth of damage in Killarney on August 27. Picture: Kerry County Council - Comhairle Contae Chiarraí/X

Flash flooding that struck Killarney, Co Kerry last month has sparked fresh appeals to overhaul the town's entire stormwater system. 

A deluge of rain, which had not been forecast for the tourist town, swamped properties and caused millions of euro worth of damage. The Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre was flooded for the third time, leading to the closure of the main hall for up to seven weeks.

No weather alerts were in place, and Kerry County Council was forced to respond to the unfolding events instead of having preparations in place beforehand, a meeting of Killarney Municipal District was told.

The 500-seat sports venue has been flooded twice previously, with one flood occurring a week after the floor was replaced. “This is the third floor that has been washed away. A serious job needs to be done with drainage,” Independent councillor Niall O’Callaghan said.

The water had come down off the hill on the other side of the N22 road. “We are spending a lot of money. If there is another fall of rain, are we going to be in the same boat again?” he asked.

The council is facing costs of €250,000 just to replace the 33m x 31m wooden floor in the sports centre to the appropriate standard.

Labour councillor Marie Moloney questioned whether the pipe network in Killarney is adequate for the increasingly common heavy rainfall events that are occurring. She requested a survey of the town’s drainage system and an assurance that drain and pipe clearance work is undertaken regularly.

Killarney’s combined stormwater and sewage system is “the greater problem” and needs a complete examination, Fianna Fáil's Niall Kelleher told the municipal district meeting. Pipe replacement would take seven years, the local authority has said.

Kerry County Council staff, the Kerry Fire Service, and the Kerry Civil Defence mobilised quickly during the floods of three weeks ago. Council management described it as “an extraordinary” event which no drainage system could have contained.

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An estimated 57mm of rain fell in a four-hour period, with some 30mm in one hour alone, which caused very significant flooding on roads throughout the town. Park Road, Woodlawn Road, and Countess Road were impassable for a time.

Councillor Maura Healy-Rae said Met Eireann has questions to answer as to why Killarney was not included in any weather alert. “There was no extreme weather warning, and Met Eireann should respond to this,” she said. 

Sandbags and other preparatory works could have been put in place if there had been warnings, the meeting was told. 

:: This report has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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