Wexford County Council issued an urgent warning on Friday evening advising motorists to avoid Enniscorthy town as water levels continue to rise rapidly, with conditions expected to deteriorate further over the next 24 hours. Members of the public have been urged to stay away from all flooded areas, with the council warning that floodwaters are contaminated and dangerous.
Several roads leading into Enniscorthy were reported to be gridlocked, while access to the Promenade has been closed to the public as a precaution. Residents in areas affected earlier this week have also been advised to be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen.
“River levels continue to rise in Co. Wexford this evening and surface water is building on all routes across the county. Motorists should avoid Enniscorthy town this afternoon as traffic is currently at a standstill,” said Wexford County Council in a statement Friday evening.
“Please do not to bring children anywhere near flooded areas as the water is flowing rapidly and there may be underlying manholes that have become dislodged and other debris from lands and the river. At this point, flood waters should be treated as contaminated.
“Our Lady’s Island Lake is currently at risk of flooding onto the road so be careful in the vicinity.
“There is a very significant risk of flooding in Enniscorthy town again tonight and over the next 24 hours. Wexford County Council teams are on site in Enniscorthy and around the county where there is an imminent risk of serious flooding and river gauges are constantly monitored.
“Please take care on all roads, local and national, as water is accumulating in places – be especially mindful on dark or quieter roads where flooding may not be obvious,” said Wexford County Council.
Photo of the water level rising quickly Friday evening. Photo: Imtiaz Khan.
The renewed flooding has forced further disruption for local businesses, including the Riverside Park Hotel, which had been due to reopen this weekend following damage sustained earlier in the week. The hotel confirmed on Friday evening that it will remain closed until further notice after floodwaters once again entered the area.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share some difficult news. In the past few minutes, the River Slaney has once again burst its banks, and it is now inevitable that the town of Enniscorthy will experience further flooding. We can only hope that the impact will not be as devastating as what occurred on Monday night,” a spokesperson said.
“Our teams have been working tirelessly to clean our stores, car park, and basement, and our maintenance team has been doing everything possible to restore power to the building. It is truly heartbreaking to see how unpredictable and cruel nature can be. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, we will NOT be able to open tomorrow, Saturday. At this time and due to unpredictability of the flooding we hope to open Sunday, but cannot confirm,” they added.
“We had hoped the river would hold and that we would be able to reopen tomorrow. Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this challenging time. Please stay safe,” the statement concluded.
Local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as rainfall persists, with further updates expected as conditions develop.