*Flooding along the Limerick – Ennis railway line at Newmarket-on-Fergus. Photograph: John Mangan
Flooding at Ballycar has prompted the closure of the Limerick to Ennis rail-link.
Iarnród Éireann confirmed that the Ennis to Limerick is to “remain closed until further notice due to flooding at Ballycar”. The first instance of flooding at the location dates back to 1826 according to Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) who hails from Newmarket-on-Fergus. A further section of the railway line at Mooghaun is also flooded.
RPS Consulting in May 2019 were appointed to develop a solution to the regular flooding problems at Ballycar which was closed for 110 days in 2014 and 140 a year later. Rail commuters must now travel by bus from Sixmilebridge to the county town.
In November 2018, Clare County Council, Irish Rail and the Office of Public Works (OPW) agreed to work in conjunction with one another to fix flooding at Ballycar.
Speaking in December at a community forum in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) stated, “There is a turf war between Clare County Council, the OPW and Iarnród Éireann. I have brought them all together, they have all bought into it and are willing to fund the works”.
