Thousands of gallons of water and tonnes of peat have been washed on to farmland following a landslide in Drumkerrin, Co Leitrim.

Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin told the Irish Farmers Journal that an estimated 150ac of land has been affected and that 35ac to 40ac of ground is still moving as a result of the landslide. Small islands with trees growing on them are also moving as a result, she said.

Thousands of tonnes of peat have moved fences and trees

The dry weather of a couple of weeks ago caused the bog to crack and split, before heavy rain over the last number of days filled in the cracks and lifted the peat. Further rain then led to a landslide.

Local IFA Drumkerrin chair Tommy Drugan told the Irish Farmers Journal that it was estimated that 30ac to 40ac of bog had split. “We had unprecedented rainfall here the last couple of days.

“Thousands of tonnes of peat have moved fences and trees on a mountain nearby and people are fearful of what will happen if it continues to rain,” Drugan said.

A large amount of peat lodged and then spilled over a bridge known as the Dawn of Hope in the area and continued downstream towards Lough Allen, flooding farmland and forcing some residents to leave their homes.

Some trees upstream have moved 200m to 300m

Between four and five foot of peat has been dumped up to 200m on ?either side of the river bank downstream on to farmland, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon and Sligo IFA executive officer John O’Hanlon said.

“We’re concerned about what will happen downstream.

“Some trees upstream have moved 200m to 300m,” he said, adding that an investigation into the incident will need to happen. He said the river flows into Lough Allen and that “huge volumes” of peat are flowing down the river now and landing on farmland.

“Two houses were evacuated on Sunday evening,” O’Hanlon said.

INHFA president Colm O’Donnell told the Irish Farmers Journal that farmers with land affected should not be penalised under the Basic Payment Scheme. “This is a clear-cut case of force majeure,” he said.

Aid package

Marian Harkin asked Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to provide Government aid to remedy damage to property and the environment arising from the landslide.

“People had suffered extensive damage to their land and property and in some cases had to leave their homes,” she told the Tánaiste.

She said that the Tánaiste would make contact with the new Minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW) to ask for immediate assistance to stabilise this situation.