Lough Funshinagh. A name that most local people have probably heard over the last number of years – but as this crisis rolls into its 8th year, the Roscommon People took a look back at how it is that this circa 1300 acres of land in South Roscommon, along with several homes, has become a symbol of the growing clash between environmental conservation and the stark realities of rising flood waters ruining livelihoods and homes.
Unprecedented challenges
Since 2016, this natural phenomenon has spiralled into a dire crisis for the local community, with flooding becoming more severe and less predictable, engulfing farmland, and homes, and disrupting lives.
The situation at Lough Funshinagh has reached unprecedented levels. Traditionally, turloughs fill with water during wet seasons and recede in drier months, but Lough Funshinagh has defied expectations, with water levels continuously rising each year, leading to annual flooding events that have placed immense strain on the local population. A particularly wet spring coupled with what was a very long and wet winter, has exacerbated the condition, causing distress and uncertainty for residents and farmers alike.
Efforts to combat the flooding
In response to the escalating crisis, Roscommon County Council has been at the forefront, proposing various measures to mitigate the flooding.
Among the proposed solutions is the installation of a pipe to divert water from Lough Funshinagh to Lough Ree, an effort aimed at reducing the water levels in the turlough and preventing further damage to the surrounding area.
This initiative, however, has faced legal challenges from environmental groups, most notably Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), who have raised concerns over the potential impact on the area’s designation as a Special Area of Conservation.
Legal and environmental hurdles
The legal battle, spearheaded by FIE, has centred on the environmental and legal ramifications of the proposed piping solution. The group’s actions in the High Court have underscored the delicate balance between human intervention and the preservation of natural habitats. These legal challenges have stymied efforts to address the flooding, leaving the community in a state of limbo, with residents facing the threat of further property damage and displacement, which became a reality last weekend as several homes were flooded despite the temporary flood defences that have been put in place.
Impact and response
The increasing water levels have not only led to physical barriers, restricting access to farmland and affecting local wildlife, but have also taken a significant emotional and psychological toll on the community. Independent councillor Laurence Fallon and affected farmers, including Eamon and John Leonard, have articulated the deep frustration and heartbreak that pervades the community, highlighting the urgent need for action.
Farmers like the Leonards face daunting challenges, with flooding impeding their ability to tend to livestock and manage their lands effectively. The crisis has forced some to consider drastic changes to their way of life, underlining the unsustainable nature of the situation. So too have several families, such as the Beattie family, been affected. The psychological strain of living in the path of rising flood waters is unimaginable for most.
Calls for emergency action
In early 2024, the crisis reached a critical point, with water levels at Lough Funshinagh at their highest for the time of year, sparking fears of unprecedented property damage and homelessness among residents.
In response, local officials and community members have intensified calls for the government to take emergency action, urging the implementation of the piping solution as a means to bring the lake back to safe levels and safeguard the environment and community.
Summary
As of February 2024, some families were advised to evacuate their homes as a precaution against the rising water levels, highlighting the immediate risk to the community’s safety and well-being.
The local infrastructure, including roads, has been severely impacted, further isolating the community and complicating relief efforts.
Last weekend, the worst-case scenario came to pass as more houses were flooded despite the efforts of the local authority to fight the flood.
The saga of Lough Funshinagh exemplifies the complex interplay between environmental conservation and local livelihoods. It underscores the need for nuanced, multifaceted solutions that can address the urgent needs of affected communities while preserving the natural landscape.
As the community of Lough Funshinagh continues to navigate this crisis, the call for decisive, compassionate action remains louder than ever with several local politicians raising the issue at a national level with those in Government.
