There are temporary solutions to flooding

Floods will abate and disappear, as will the initiative of those responsible, giving way to speeches from politicians and public-sector engineers doing a “Nero”.

Bringing in Dutch engineers is a suggestion.

Are our own less intelligent?

I am not an engineer but I have life experience with water. While never having lived in the flooded Shannon area my suggestions are as follows: The Shannon/ Athlone area is a basin, not a regular flowing river, therefore when excess water occurs it moves to its own level over the adjoining land, thus flooding. As is so with most rivers in Ireland, they flow east, as do more rivers west of the Shannon, therefore increasing volume into the Shannon.

My solution is dredge from the point where water is more or less static (Athlone area) down to where water can flow again (Limerick area), install some industrial scale pumps en route and again at outflow. This may not solve everything but it would be the quickest solution until a more Dutch-like system can be put in place where lesser rivers may have to be rerouted.

Anyhow relax, this will never happen due to lack of initiative.

Con O’Sullivan

Claddanure West

Kenmare

Co Kerry