The worrying discovery was made last week after a downpour of rain.

The major concern now is that more rain could potentially wash dead fish into the drinking water supply.

The tiny carcasses were found at the entrance to a swallow hole and it is assumed that these fish died when the water started to recede after the floods. This is a result of failure to clean up the area after the floods. The area of Castleplunkett was badly affected by winter flooding last year with some roads remaining closed until recent weeks.

Worries

More than 50 people along with Roscommon Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice were in attendance at a local meeting in Castleplunkett last week where the devastating impacts of the winter floods were uncovered.

The aim of this meeting was to ensure that the devastation of last year’s flooding would not be relived. Attendees hit out at the lack of work that was being doing in the past number of months and said that raising roads would not be sufficient.

The realities were that people were out of their homes and forced to drive miles for local amenities as a result of the closure of local roads. Locals in the area are appalled at the devastation the floods have caused and the impacts that they have had on local businesses. Residents are appealing for achievable work to be done.

The old SAC agreement will have to be honoured. We are not rural development, we are rural restriction

Funding

The local council sought out €11m funding to tackle the issue last year however they have received less than half of this. €430 million funding has been allocated for relief works in the programme for government. The harsh reality is that the funding received is not sufficient for the remuneration work and prevention of the reoccurrence of flooding in Castleplunkett.

Summer flooding

The ESB is now being urged to let enough water go downstream to prevent the risk of further summer flooding. The water levels on the Shannon are reported to be nine inches higher than they should be at this time of year, it has been claimed. Fianna Fáil deputy Eugene Murphy has called for the gates at Parteen and Melick on the River Shannon system to be opened with the aim of mitigating summer floods in affected areas.

Farmer Charlie Killeen from county Galway spoke to the Irish Farmers Journal on behalf of farmers affected by these floods. Killeen said farmers' hands continue to be tied by flooding and restrictions.

“The old SAC agreement will have to be honoured. We are not rural development, we are rural restriction.

"The state is saving millions by having our land designated. They are not prepared to compensate for the loss of value or restrictions imposed. The national exchequer will have to take us on board for funding. SACs are indeed the biggest land grab since Cromwell, however this time it is being done by the national parks and wildlife on behalf of the state.”

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