A serious situation is currently evolving in Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, where cows and calves are stuck on a flooded callows, according to Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Ciarán Mullooly.

After visiting the site of the issue, Mullooly explained that a number of farmers have cattle "marooned" on the callows following recent flooding.

Mullooly warned of the serious consequences facing these farmers in their endeavours to rescue the animals.

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"Locals were in contact with the ESB staff in Ardncrusha [on Saturday]. While sympathetic with this catastrophe, they say that it is out of their control. Waterways Ireland are also notified and says they have the sluices correctly controlled," Mullooly said.

Farmers in the area have previously called for a single authority to control water flow in the Shannon and for the level of water in the surrounding lakes to be reduced by one metre.

The Save our Shannon Organisation maintains that the removal of pinch points in the Shannon Callows area that are constricting the flow of water would reduce the level of flooding on the callows.