Stinking river proves too much for ducks

JUST a few months ago, a nesting pair of mallard ducks, with their eight tiny ducklings, were swimming in the gentle waters under the Glasheen Bridge in Cork, but now the river is full of sewage with an atrocious smell.

The ducks are no more to be seen because mallards are not an endangered species and their habitat is not protected. The state of the river is amazing considering the total expenditure of €17 million by Cork city council on water supply and sewerage.

While the Cork main drainage project was completed in 2003 at a cost of €200 million, much remains to be done.