Update:
Saturday, 1.45pm – Clare County Council and Civil Defence crews assisted residents at Springfield, Clonlara this morning in advance of the storm. The crews were stood down at 12.00 noon during the red warning. The Defence Forces will resume cover this evening and CCC and Civil Defence crews will be back on duty tomorrow morning at Springfield.  ESB have advised there will be no increase in the volumes of water released today. The Council will continue to monitor and assess the situation throughout the stormy conditions this weekend.
Thursday, 3.35pm – Clare County Council has confirmed that the ESB has advised that there will be no increase in release volumes today or tomorrow. The Council continues to monitor and assess the situation with regard to expected rainfall over the weekend.
Thursday, 1.05pm – As many as ten homes remain at high risk of flooding in Springfield with one house already inundated with water. Despite a ministerial visit in 2017 and repeated commitments to resolve flooding in the area, locals continue to live in fear of being forced out of their homes again.
Families are using pumps to keep the rising waters at bay while Clare Civil Defence volunteers have been using a Unimog vehicle to transport residents to and from their homes.
Wednesday, 7.55pm – Clare County Council, Civil Defence and Fire Service are now being assisted by the Army in dealing with rising water levels and the needs of the residents at Springfield, Clonlara.
The ESB has confirmed that 400cu.m/sec is being released today. The Council also continues to monitor and manage water levels in Ennis.
CCC, Civil Defence, & Fire Service are now being assisted by the Army in dealing with rising water levels & needs of the residents at Springfield, Clonlara. ESB have confirmed 400cu.m/sec being released today. The Council also continues to monitor & manage water levels in Ennis. pic.twitter.com/U0ilOJm6aP
— Clare County Council (@ClareCoCo) February 26, 2020
Tuesday, 1.55pm – Clare County Council’s Crisis Management met again today to review flooding at Springfield Clonlara.
The ESB has confirmed that 370cu.m/sec of water will be released from today. Currently in high tide cycle and water levels are continuing to rise. The Council, Civil Defence and Fire Service are engaging with and assisting residents.
The Council is also monitoring and managing water levels in the Ennis area.
Clare County Council has confirmed that its Crisis Management Team is continually monitoring the situation with regard to rising water levels at Springfield, Clonlara.
All necessary resources from Clare County Council and the Civil Defence are being deployed to assist with managing the response to the rising water levels and the needs of the residents.
The ESB have confirmed that 345 cubic meters of water per second is currently being released over the Parteen weir. The Council will continue to liaise with the ESB and the local residents.
Residents of Springfield, Clonlara in particular are facing their worst nightmare yet again.
A number of homes have already been flooding while others are also at serious risk.
Over 7,000 sandbags have been filled while pumping equipment has also been brought in if required.
This latest threat to locals comes following repeated similar and worsening incidents in 1995, 2009, 2015 and 2016.
