COMPREHENSIVE flood action plans have been prepared by Cork County Council for Bantry, Rosscarbery, and Schull.

With millions of euros already invested in major flood relief works in Skibbereen, Clonakilty and Bandon, these plans show how flooding in Bantry, Rosscarbery and Schull will be tackled in the short term.

The plans, which come under the jurisdiction of the West Cork Municipal District, sets out the problem areas, it also addresses who will be tasked with a response, and what measures will be taken.

The 19-page Bantry report, prepared by the local authority’s Roads Directorate; the 11-page Schull plan; and the Rosscarbery nine-page plan are available to view on the local authority’s website.

As the second largest town in the West Cork Municipal District area, Bantry, which has a population of 2,858 according to the 2022 Census, has three potential threats.

The first comes from the Mill River through the town as well as smaller water courses and tributaries. The second is tidal flooding, especially at times of heavy rainfall and high spring tides.

The third threat has to do with structural conditions and the insufficient capacity of old culverts within the town.

At times of extreme rainfall, surface water flowing down from the surrounding hills causes manhole covers in low-lying areas to lift and flood the town.

The report outlines how Bantry has flooded on numerous occasions, including the flooding of ten properties at Wolfe Tone Square, The Quay and Bridge Street on October 17th, 2012.

Another ten properties at Main Street and Barrack Street were flooded on October 24th 2013; with nine more homes and businesses damaged at Wolfe Tone Square and New Street over a five-day period from January 2nd to 6th in 2014.

An incident of tidal flooding was recorded on October 8th 2014 at New Street and Wolfe Tone Square, but no property damage was recorded.

The prolific use of sandbags, particularly the one-tonne sand bags at the quays, the deployment of water pumps, and the swift response of local authority and fire brigade personnel have proven to be highly effective in protecting properties on numerous occasions.

However, the worst was to come on August 24th and 25th 2020 when 50 properties were damaged at Wolfe Tone Square, William Street, New Street, Main Street, Barrack Street, Bridge Street, The Quay west of the square including its car park.

A second major incident left the town reeling when 27 more properties were damaged by flooding on October 20th of that same year.

Two more floods followed in 2020: 13 properties at New Street and Sands Quay were damaged on November 15th, followed by a single property the following day.

At the beginning of 2021, 10 properties were damaged in the Main Street, New Street and Wolfe Tone Square area on February 13th; and at that year's end, on December 7th, 28 properties were damaged at Wolfe Tone Square, New Street, and the quay west of the square.

The major floods have left the residents of Bantry on tenterhooks, fearing that every storm or downpour could wreak havoc, but it wasn't until Sunday October 29th to Wednesday November 1st in 2023 that four properties were damaged by tidal flooding.

A map of Bantry town as included in the report

On October 5th 2024, Bantry was subject to yet another major flood event with 36 properties being damaged in the town centre.

A yellow weather warning for November 4th 2025 left some residents unprepared for the flooding that occurred at 3am in Bantry town centre and an estimated 20 local properties were damaged by surface water flooding.

On that occasion, surface water coming down Bridge Street and High Street and also from road gullies and manholes feed into the main culvert underneath the town and they back-filled, lifted, and flooded the town centre.

Details of a preferred option for the Bantry flood relief scheme were outlined at The Maritime Hotel in Bantry before Christmas and it revised the cost of the flood relief works upwards from €6.7 million to €40 million.

Elements of the plan explore how best to harness the overflow from the Mealagh River and the Mill River during severe weather conditions.

It also considers what parts of town needs new drains to slow down or carry rain and surface water, as well as the size and scope of impermeable coastal flood defence walls around the inner harbour.

All issues have been factored in to the final figure, which could take until 2030 or 2031 before ground is broken, and two years more of construction to complete.

In the meantime, the council is working on an Individual Property Protection Scheme, funded by the Office of Public Works.

Seven critical flooding locations have been identified in the new flood action plan, namely: Sand Quays, Wolfe Tone Square, the Harbour Road wastewater pump station, Bridge Street and near the library building, the Mill River, Parade Field, and the secondary school road.

An aerial view of the proposed traffic management plan during flooding, also as contained in the report.

As part of the plan, each of these areas are to be checked regularly, alongside the monitoring of rainfall gauges, a river level gauge located on the Mill river at the library, as well as a sea level gauge west of Bantry Marina.

The action plan sets out what steps will be taken for minor or major flood events, everything from deploying sandbags and the use of pumps, as well as communicating with local gardaí, business and community groups.

Meanwhile, the local area engineer may execute a planned flood watch over the risk period and deploy work gangs and equipment, as well as informing elected representatives and the council's media liaison officer.

In extreme circumstances, those in charge will declare a major emergency and engage the gardaí, the civil defence, Health Service Executive, fire service and Uisce Eireann.

However, in the copy of the plan provided to The Southern Star the name and contact numbers of the lead agencies was redacted other than to say the council’s own area office will be the on-site coordination centre.

Cork County Council's Comment on Flood Plans

Cork County Council’s Flood Emergency Plan identifies a number of high-risk flooding areas across the county, requiring local Flood Action Plans.

These include Bantry, Schull and Rosscarbery.

The Bantry and Schull Flood Action Plans were reviewed and updated in December 2025, the Rosscarbery Flood Action Plan was drafted in September 2024.

The plans can be accessed on the Council’s website under the Major Emergency Management and Major Emergency Plan section.

The plans outline the actions Cork County Council as Principal Response Agency will take in the event of flooding, they are intended for use by Council staff, the relevant contact numbers are for internal use.

The Council’s emergency number is 021 4800048.

The personnel involved are primarily the roads area staff in each location supported by the emergency services, external agencies, and local contractors.