Following the launch of a temporary solution to flooding at Lough Funshinagh, farmers and landowners are now looking towards "rebuilding" their livelihoods that faced damage from unprecedented water levels.

The interim flood relief system was switched on today (Friday, March 28) to pump water from Lough Funshinagh to the Cross River, within the townland of Carrick in Co. Roscommon.

Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, and the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Paschal Fitzmaurice turned on the pumping solution, pending the completion of a permanent scheme. 

Minister Moran said that “today is a very positive day" and that those local to the lake can "sleep easy" the next time that there is heavy rainfall.

Farmer James Coffey told Agriland that the flooding "devastated" land in the area, having "lost about 30ac of land" on his own farm.

Coffey said that last year was "particularly bad" with many farmers worrying for livestock and losing vegetation. He added that it will take about four or five years for land "to come back to its original glory" now that a solution is in place.

"We will need more support as we look towards rebuilding to help us out with losses. We didn't cause this flooding, it was caused by negligence over years. Maybe compensation to re-seed the land, re-build walls and fences," Coffey said.

The new pumps are situated on the farm of Fionnuala Mee McHugh and Bernadette Mee, who faced flooded fields and constant pressure with grazing and finding fodder.

Bernadette Mee said that the temporary solution will allow for wildlife, trees, along with flora and fauna to be restored.

"There was beautiful, mature trees on this farm and you can see the remnants of them in the water at the moment. They're just standing like a statue in the water getting ready to fall," she said.

Eamon Ward, who is also farming in the area, described the pumping solution as "a light at the end of the tunnel" and said that he would be "hopeful" that a long-term solution is also "just around the corner".

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) flooding project team chair Brendan Golden welcomed the new flooding system, and said it is “a major step in the right direction”.

However, he said that there has been "huge damage done environmentally", along with infrastructural damage, which will "need to be looked at next".

"For a long number of years, farmers were not being listened to and they definitely didn't get enough support. With the political dynamics of the last year probably helped us a little bit.

"We had an election last year and it did bring more focus to it, there was record flooding over a year ago as well that put the focus on it more, but the key thing now is that we build on today's progress," Golden said.

A total of 2.5km of piping is being used to bring excess water from the lake through Curraghboy and into the river. The pipes have been placed on the surface of the land and the pumping will be controlled to ensure that no issues arise downstream.

Civil and mechanical works were executed by Donegal company, Source Civil Limited and Dutch company, Holland Special Pumps.

In accordance with planning approval granted by An Bord Pleanála, the pumps will operate on a temporary basis in order to minimise damage to property and infrastructure while a second planning application for a permanent flood management solution is being prepared.

The temporary scheme also includes ongoing monitoring of water levels in Lough Funshinagh and in the Cross River.