Shannon farmers send out an SOS to save their land

RURAL TDs in constituencies adjoining the Shannon have been called upon to work together to put in place an action plan for the relief of river flooding that continues to threaten homes, farms, farmyards and wildlife across eight counties.

The renamed Save Our Shannon Organisation claimed that the lowering of water levels along the Shannon’s three main lakes – as well as the elimination of over 20 critical river pinch points – could overnight virtually ‘wipe out’ the problem of summer flooding in the area.

SOSO are also seeking a meeting with Minister of State, Patrick O’Donovan, who has responsibility for the OPW – the lead agency in terms of flooding issues across the country.

Chairman of SOSO and local Shannon Callows farmer, Michael Silke, this week told the Connacht Tribune that he was unequivocally laying the blame for the summer flood problems at the doors of the ESB and Waterways Ireland.

“These are the two great ‘untouchables’ as far as the flooding problems of the Shannon are concerned. They really are a law onto themselves,” he said.

Mr Silke added that historically a decision taken in 1972 to raise the level of Lough Ree by 0.61 metres (two feet) was one of the core problems with flooding lower down on the Shannon.

“My summer grazing on 50 acres of land beside the Shannon this year was just two months – from the end of May to the end of July. And I’m just one example of the problems being faced by hundreds of farmers,” he said.

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