Around 500 protest in Midleton over delayed flood defences
The demonstration came three years after Storm Babet flooded homes and businesses; the main relief scheme is expected to go to planning by year-end.
Around 500 people protested in Midleton on Saturday, 17 October 2026, calling for progress on flood protection three years after Storm Babet caused extensive flooding in east Cork. Cork County Council is expected to submit the town’s main flood relief scheme for planning by the end of the year, while separate interim and advance works have been announced.
The demonstration called for action as the main scheme awaits a planning application.
Protest three years after the floods
Around 500 people took part in a protest in Midleton on Saturday, 17 October 2026, over delays to flood defences. The demonstration was organised by the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group, with participants from the town and nearby communities including Mogeely, Killeagh and Castlemartyr.
The protest came three years after Storm Babet caused severe flooding in Midleton and other parts of east Cork. Reports put the toll at about 600 homes and 300 businesses damaged, with estimated losses of €180 million to €200 million. Residents and campaigners said they remained worried about another flood and frustrated by repeated changes to the scheme timetable.
Main scheme awaits planning submission
Cork County Council is expected to submit the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the end of 2026. That is a planned application, not confirmation that the scheme has received approval or that construction has begun.
The group’s spokeswoman, Mona Stromsoe, said the expected submission date had shifted again, while Caroline Leahy, a group spokesperson who took part in the protest, described successive deadline changes as a source of anxiety. The principal scheme is intended to protect 750 properties, according to the minister’s announcement reported in the supplied coverage.
Separate interim and advance works
Minister of State Kevin “Boxer” Moran announced €1.1 million for interim flood-mitigation measures in Mogeely, Castlemartyr, Rathcormac and Ballintubber. The funding was described as part of a wider €14 million allocation for Midleton and east Cork; the announcement does not mean those measures are already in place.
A further €5.8 million is intended to support advance works in Tír Cluain, Midleton, with construction expected to start in spring 2027. The works are expected to protect 135 properties. These measures are distinct from the wider relief scheme, whose planning application is still anticipated by year-end.
Explore the background
Further reading
Selected background resources to explain the context and concepts behind this story.
Understand the statutory framework and strategic objectives for flood risk management in Ireland.
Flood Risk Management Plan Plean um Bainistiú Priacal ...
This official Flood Risk Management Plan provides the foundational policy context for how flood risks are assessed and addressed in the region, helping readers understand the long-term planning behind the Midleton scheme.
Learn about the review process and updates to national flood risk maps and management plans.
The Review of the Flood Risk Management Plans Report
As a government report on the review of Flood Risk Management Plans, this document offers insight into how flood risk data is maintained and updated, which is crucial for understanding the technical basis of current flood protection efforts.
Identify the role of the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme within the broader National Planning Framework.
Cork County Council and Cork City Council
This joint submission from Cork County Council to the National Planning Framework explicitly references the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, providing context on how local infrastructure projects align with national strategic planning goals.
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