€82,000 has been approved in funding for flood works in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary), which will include clearing bankside trees and scrub from The Ford area, from the Inchinossig Bridge to the Bunsheelin River. It also allows for clearing works on the Bunsheelin River from the GAA Pitch to confluence with the River Lee.

The news was confirmed on Thursday, having been discussed only recently at a Macroom district council meeting by Cllr Gobnait Moynihan.

Flooding in Ballingeary in 2015. (Photo: ballingeary.com)

In 2015, the village was granted €22,500 for similar clearance works in the same areas. In 2011, € 40,000 was granted for river clearing and maintenance works.

The funding comes under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, which allows local authorities to take on minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh is one of  50 areas on the OPW’s list for more extensive works, but work hasn’t begun on any of these yet. This project would protect about 46 properties in the village.