'Urgent' drainage works needed in Mayo village

Mayo County Council has been asked to carry out "urgent" drainage works at Ardagh to prevent future flooding.

Cllr Michael Loftus made the call at last week's meeting of Ballina Municipal District, noting that a private premises in Ardagh is constantly flooding and that drainage piping put in place by the council dates back to the 1950s and '60s. He told the municipal district engineer Orla Bourke: “Last year we got €180,000 towards drainage works and I would like to see money spent on this area and also towards Ardagh Church. It needs to be drained because it is blocking up and causing a lot of flooding to homeowners and making roads impassable.” 

Ms Bourke said the matter can be looked at as part of the council’s drainage programme, but Cllr Loftus said he did not wish to be “fobbed off” with this reply, stating that it was either an Office of Public Works (OPW) or council issue. 

"I was taken aback by what is happening up there. This flooding was not done by local individuals, it is a matter for either the council or the OPW.” 

Ms Bourke said the council would see if there was a way to fund works in conjunction with the OPW.