Extensive flooding along the River Shannon in Athlone Town. Source: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

EFFORTS TO STEM rising water levels in flood-hit towns on the River Shannon are continuing as parts of the country brace for further rain and snow.

A Met Eireann yellow weather warning for hail, sleet and snow is in place for counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo until 12pm tomorrow.

Today, authorities in Leitrim were working to prevent homes and businesses being swamped. Carrick-on-Shannon and Leitrim village are at particular risk.

Councillor Sean McGowan said local people were bracing themselves for more bad weather. He said the water levels in Carrick-on-Shannon were showing no signs of dropping.

“The council have been working flat out, they have provided pumps to take away some of the flooding,” said the Fianna Fail representative. “In fairness, they are doing quite a good job.”

McGowan said it would be a number of years before planned flood defence structures were installed in the town.

The weather hasn’t been kind to us and we’ve had a lot of rain and up here in the north-west, we’re promised for the next couple of days more rain, sleet and snow. It’s a matter of the agencies all putting their shoulder to the wheel and trying to ensure that communities are protected as best they can.

Further down the Shannon, Minister of State with responsibility for flood relief, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, was working in flood-hit areas in Athlone, Co Westmeath, through Tuesday night and again this morning.

Efforts were hampered late last night when a pump failed in one of the worst-hit areas of the town, around Deerpark Road.

Moran confirmed all pumps were back in operation today.

Tweeting from the scene, he wrote: “Pumps all up and running. Fingers crossed we don’t have another night like last night but is great to see the water gone of (sic) the street and from around the houses. Tough night all over with different things happening. A big thanks to all who helped out.”