by Evelyn Cullen
THE extreme flooding of Dunfanaghy’s Market Square on Sunday evening was a result not only of Storm Ashley, but the failure of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to allow for the removal of the silt and sand that has built up over many years at the old pier, it has been claimed.
“The situation here in Dunfanaghy is that the OPW will not allow us, the council, or indeed anyone else for that matter, to drive out past the market house with a digger as far as the old pier, and dredge out that muck and silt that has built up over years and years,” Councillor Michael McClafferty told the Donegal News.
As a coastal village, Dunfanaghy faces the tides every day, which bring marine debris with them when they come in, and leave a residue when they go out again which builds up around the pier and the barrier walls around The Green opposite Arnold’s Hotel.
“The local fishermen estimate that there’s about 10 to 15 feet of silt and muck, or what we would call ‘glár’, built up at the old pier, so when the tide comes in the pipes going out of the village are submerged in water, and the water can’t get away,” said Cllr McClafferty.
This build-up, combined with high tides and heavy wind and rain from Storm Ashley was what caused the sea to flow out over the pier and onto the land, completely submerging the Market Square under water on Sunday night.
“The tide came in around half eight, nine o’clock and it was raining heavily at that time. The water at the square had nowhere to go.
“That dip in the middle of the square was a small mercy, only for it the water would definitely have flowed into businesses and out across the road.”
Cllr McClafferty questioned why dredging was not carried out as often in Dunfanaghy as in other places.
“The fact is that the restriction the OPW has placed on us means we are are not being allowed to get prepared safely for these heavy rains and high tides. All that needs to be done is to get a digger in there to dig out the sludge, which would alleviate the flooding immensely.
“They dredge the pier in Magheraroarty every year because of the fishing and the boats going to Tory and the other islands, yet the OPW will not do it for us in Dunfanaghy.
“And it’s the same situation in Portnablagh. The fishermen can’t land their boats safely because the sand is too high. Don’t their boats deserve equally as safe a landing as the boats in Magheraoarty?”
The reason for the restriction is that the area is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) with laws to protect the plants, fish and wildfowl in the area.
“They don’t want to disturb the ground and the wildlife, yet apparently it’s ok for our businesses to get flooded every time we have a high tide and heavy rain,” said Cllr McClafferty.
Thanks to the provision of sandbags by the council in advance of Storm Ashley, Revive Café and the other businesses were able to stem the flow of the water this time, which reduced the damage that could have been caused otherwise.
The rain and tide water together pooled in the middle of the square, which has a dip “like a basin,” said Kathy Dunn, owner of Revive Café and Antique Store.
“Thanks be to God we had the sandbags”, said Kathy.
Cllr Mc Clafferty said the OPW “need to get a grip” on the situation.
“It’s not good enough, the OPW need to get a grip and prioritise the protection of homes and businesses. What’s more important, protecting pearl mussel or protecting an entire village from getting flooded? It’s a no-brainer.”
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