Two years after devastating floods swept through Midleton and East Cork, hundreds of residents gathered in the town on Saturday afternoon to demand urgent progress on long-promised flood defences.

Defying wind and rain, the demonstrators marched from Market Green through Main Street before finishing at Baby’s Walk. The protest, organised by the Midleton Flood Protection Group, drew support from residents in neighbouring communities including Rathcormac.

Campaigners accused the Government and local authorities of failing to deliver meaningful protection since the October 2023 floods, when Storm Babet brought record-breaking rainfall to the region. Midleton received 126 millimetres of rain in just 36 hours, almost a month’s total in a single weekend, causing the Owenacurra River to burst its banks and inundate the town centre.

More than 400 homes and 300 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated at about €200 million. Many residents, particularly those without flood insurance, were left facing major repair bills.

Despite repeated assurances, protesters said little progress has been made on strengthening defences or addressing vulnerabilities exposed during the disaster, when high river levels and low tides prevented effective drainage.

Saturday’s rally followed a similar demonstration outside Cork County Council’s offices in County Hall last month.

The council has said that work is ongoing under the Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection (IPP) Scheme, which was established last year. Of the 725 valid applications received, most remain incomplete.

The local authority is still in the process of tendering for 831 slot-in flood barriers, designed to fit into fixed frames around doorways and installed in stages during flood warnings.