Enniscorthy Flooding: Volunteer Rescuers Faced Council Complaint Amid Storm Chandra Aftermath

ENNISCORTHY (Azat TV) – Severe flooding triggered by Storm Chandra and the River Slaney bursting its banks caused widespread disruption in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, earlier this week, leading to a controversial incident involving a civilian rescue team. Amidst critical evacuation efforts, Wexford County Council reportedly lodged a complaint with An Garda Síochána against Slaney Search and Rescue, a volunteer group credited with rescuing over a dozen families from the rising waters.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday morning when the River Slaney overflowed, submerging parts of Enniscorthy. Shane O’Connor, Chairman of Slaney Search and Rescue, confirmed that his team played a crucial role in evacuating residents from the flooded Quay area, including a three-week-old infant, Ollie Micheal Kirwan, along with his parents and grandmother. The volunteers utilized dinghies to navigate the inundated streets, responding to calls for help, including one from local independent councillor Jackser Owens for the Kirwan family whose apartment complex’s ground floor was fully submerged.

However, Mr. O’Connor told the Irish Mirror that Wexford County Council contacted local gardaí to complain about his organization’s activities. According to O’Connor, the council felt that Slaney Search and Rescue should not have been operating in the flooded areas, suggesting that affected families should instead contact the council directly. The council, which reportedly provides no financial support to the voluntary group, later confirmed its interaction with gardaí.

A spokeswoman for Wexford County Council verified that it had requested assistance from An Garda Síochána on Tuesday morning to prevent members of the public from entering areas with rapidly moving floodwaters. The council stated its primary mission was the ‘preservation of life’ and did not specifically name Slaney Search and Rescue in its public statement regarding the complaint.

Enniscorthy Flooding Response and Wider Regional Impact

The flooding in Enniscorthy was part of a broader pattern of severe weather that impacted Ireland’s southeast. Counties Wexford, Kilkenny, and Carlow experienced extensive flooding following heavy rainfall, leading to numerous road closures and damage to homes and businesses. A status yellow rainfall warning for several counties, including Wexford, had expired at midnight on Saturday, January 31, but the effects continued.

In Kilkenny, clean-up operations were underway after a ‘really difficult night’ across the county, with flash floods reported in areas that had not seen water before, according to Mary Mulholland, Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council. While water levels in the River Nore had dropped, the River Barrow was still rising. Thomastown and Inistioge experienced significant disruption, with partial and full road reopenings respectively.

Carlow County Council reported that the River Burren was nearing record levels, and crews were actively over-pumping in Tullow on the River Slaney to manage rising levels. Waterford City and County Council also advised extreme caution due to widespread surface water and pooling on roads, particularly in the east of the county, with sections of the R683, R684, and R680 becoming impassable.

Government and Future Weather Outlook

In response to the widespread damage, the Irish government announced plans to increase the amount of money available to small businesses affected by Storm Chandra that are unable to secure flood insurance. The aid package, which is expected to be signed off by the Cabinet in the coming days, will see the maximum available funding rise from €20,000 to €100,000. Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that he would visit the affected areas in the southeast over the coming days to assess the situation firsthand.

Meanwhile, Met Éireann continues to forecast further unsettled weather for most of the long weekend, with council crews across the affected regions remaining on high alert. The ESB also issued a warning about rising water levels in the Poulaphouca Reservoir in County Wicklow, indicating that increased outflows might be necessary in the coming days, potentially raising the risk of flooding along the River Liffey in areas like Clane and Newbridge.

The reported complaint against Slaney Search and Rescue highlights a critical tension that can arise during emergencies between official protocols and the immediate, often life-saving, actions of experienced volunteer groups. While authorities prioritize public safety and coordinated responses, the swift, on-the-ground action of local volunteers often proves indispensable in rapidly unfolding crises.