CORK, Ireland — Residents and business owners from East Cork, including areas devastated by Storm Babet in 2023, have escalated their campaign against the perceived slow pace of promised flood defence works. Hundreds of protesters, organized by the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection groups, recently demonstrated outside Cork County Hall, demanding urgent government and local authority action.
The central rallying cry for the community remains, “We’re in fear every time it rains,” reflecting the acute anxiety nearly two years after the devastating floods. The protest was a response to what campaigners describe as “painfully slow” progress on implementing comprehensive flood prevention measures.
Caroline Leahy, secretary of the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group, emphasized the community’s determination to maintain pressure. “What we would like to see is a commitment from government level, all the way down to local authorities, that things are going to move with a bit of urgency,” she stated. The protestors highlighted that only a small fraction—approximately 74 of 725 properties—have received the promised individual flood barriers almost a year after the scheme was announced.
Villages outside Midleton, such as Castlemartyr, Mogeely, Killeagh, and Rathcormac, feel particularly neglected, with residents reporting endless delays, assessments, and studies instead of concrete action. With the Midleton flood relief scheme not estimated for submission for planning permission until early 2026, and substantial completion slated for 2031, residents are vowing to continue their protests until real and meaningful protection is delivered.
