Former Tipperary TD played a huge role in bringing an end to the misery of flooding in Clonmel

At the time there seemed to be no escape from the despair, misery and devastation wrought by the regular flooding events that saw  Clonmel submerged in water.

Houses had to be evacuated, approach roads to the town were closed down and flooding had a catastrophic effect on business in the town.

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Today, Clonmel is protected from the flooding thanks to a huge investment and also the influence of the late Martin Mansergh at Cabinet level.

The former South Tipperary TD was a Minister of State from 2008 to 2011, with responsibility for some of that period for the Office of Public Works.

His commitment to a flood relief scheme for Clonmel at the time and his insistence on the arrival of funding for each stage ensured delivery of the much-needed scheme.

The Office of Public Works worked with South Tipperary County Council, Clonmel Borough Council and Waterford County Council on a Steering Group which was formed to drive forward the process of developing and implementing a flood relief scheme for the town which would be economically viable and environmentally acceptable and which would offer the standard level of protection against a flood with a 1% probability of occurring in a given year, more commonly called the 100-year flood event.

Consultants, Mott MacDonald Ireland, were appointed in 2003 to carry out the design of a flood relief scheme for Clonmel.
It was subsequently announced that a flood relief scheme would be proceeded with and constructed in three phases: West, North and East. A public exhibition of the total Clonmel scheme was held, for one month, in the summer of 2005 at the Town Hall in Clonmel.

The full scheme was divided into three distinct schemes to ensure a ‌speedy delivery of works.
The detailed design of the Clonmel West Scheme commenced in 2006.
Works commenced in August 2007 and were substantially complete in May 2010.
Works included tree felling, the building of sheet piled and reinforced concrete walls, building of embankments and pumping stations, alterations and improvements to the drainage system, the placing of a contract for demountable defences and other ancillary works.

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Certain remaining flood relief works relating to the Clonmel West scheme (mainly in the Convent Road area) were carried out during 2013.

In September 2008, work commenced on the detailed design of the remaining phases for the town, incorporating both the Clonmel North and Clonmel East Schemes, which were constructed simultaneously.

Works on these phases commenced in September 2010 and were substantially completed in November 2012.
The works on this phase also included new sheet-piled and reinforced concrete walls and embankments, new culverts, some channel widening, the replacement of two bridges and repairs to a further bridge, pumping stations and alterations and improvements to the drainage system.

Again, provision was made for the erection of demountable defences.
The overall scheme for Clonmel has benefited approximately 500 properties.

The effectiveness of the scheme depends on the erection of the demountable defences by Clonmel Borough Council staff upon receipt of a flood warning from the Flood Forecasting System developed by the OPW.