Home News UPDATED: Flooding fears in Mountmellick, Rathdowney and Portarlington again

UPDATED: Flooding fears in Mountmellick, Rathdowney and Portarlington again

More bad news

Less than a few months after large parts of Mountmellick and Portarlington were devastated by flooding, there are fears it could occur again today.

Heavy rain began falling overnight and has continued without relenting for much of the day so far.

And Mountmellick residents are taking precautions already to try protect their homes.

Sandbags have been distributed in Irishtown and Bay Road areas – two places which were devastated at the end of last year.

The road to Barkmills off the main road from Mountmellick to Ballyfin is extremely flooded.

A statement on the Mountmellick Flood Community page read: “Civil defence en route, Laois County Council and Fire Brigade have been contacts by councillor Paddy Bracken.

“Sandbags available at Bay Rd – stay tuned for more info on that. Be prepared without panicking, rivers rising at a significant pace.”

In Portarlington, the Bog Road is now closed due to flooding.

The R420 Tullamore to Portarlington is badly flooded in Geashill across from the GAA pitch.

And fire engines have been sent to an area between Ballybrophy and Borris-In-Ossory where they are pumping water in an effort to keep flooding at bay.

And we have now just received reports from the Fire Service in Rathdowney who are telling us about a number of problems.

The Johnstown Road at Dunnes Stores is badly flooded while so too is the Borris-In-Ossory Road at Clarney Hall.

While the Rathdowney to Castletown and Mountrath Road is now virtually impassable.

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