Longford water crisis: Calls for 'urgent action' to address ongoing water outages

A householder, school principal and publican in Ardagh have spoken of their deep frustration and dismay over ongoing water outages, which are causing severe disruption.

More than 6,000 residents in the Ballymahon, Legan, Ballymahon, Carrickedmond, Forgney and Ardagh areas have regularly had to endure frequent bursts and loss of water supply since 2019.

There has been increasing annoyance, exasperation and anger with eight outages in the 11 days between Friday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 20 - including one last Monday and two last Tuesday.

It is understood several Forgney residents reported 28 outages in 2024 and there has been 18 outages so far in 2025.

Ardagh householder Cathy Lynch said local people there have 'had enough' of recurring water outages during the past six years and urgent action is needed in the Ballymahon Municipal District area to address the major issue.

The married mother of two has called on Longford County Council, Center Parcs, Uisce Éireann and all relevant stakeholders to 'resource the solution'.

Cathy, who lives with her husband Michael in the village of approximately 200 people, has kept a record of the outages.
The most recent water outage was last Thursday, May 15.

Cathy stated there were 13 water outages in Ardagh last year and not counting the storm-related outages there has been three so far in 2025.

She stressed that people 'have had enough'.

"Residents are calling for Longford County Council, Center Parcs, Uisce Éireann and all relevant stakeholders to resource the solution to water supply issues in the Ballymahon region with immediate effect."

Cathy stressed that trying to complete basic and necessary tasks such as flushing toilets, washing hands, taking showers, washing clothes and cooking is regularly not possible.

"Myself and my neighbours are in a situation where any morning you wake up, you do not know if you will have water, it generally happens twice a month but it could be a weekday, it could be a weekend.

"There does not seem to be a pattern. and you don't know when the water will be off, except that it is off on a regular basis, you can't do anything.”

Cathy accepted there is no sole cause for the outages, but clearly, a development of the size of Center Parcs 'was always going to require a lot of water'.

She stated it was the 'planning authority's role' to assess the 'development's impact on the water supply' when planning permission was being sought.

In 2016, Center Parcs was granted planning permission to build a €232 million village on a 395-acre site in Newcastle Wood, near Ballymahon.

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Cathy has questioned whether the environmental assessment at the outset of this substantial project had “foreseen the strain that subsequently was placed upon the local water supply” in the Ballymahon Municiap District area.

Cathy has also claimed “significant water supply issues have been well known by all stakeholders” since 2019.

"When water supply issues with Center Parcs emerged in 2019, why weren't steps taken to protect the interests of local residents, schools, businesses and the wider Ballymahon region?,” she asked.

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Legan-based Cllr Paul Ross has described the situation as having now reached 'crisis point' and he said he will submit a motion requesting a meeting with Uisce Éireann to the council.

Theresa Kearney, the principal of St Mel's National School in Ardagh said Cllr Paul Ross has been very helpful in terms of trying to get information and answers.

She explained they had to install backup water tanks at the premises in 2023.

Ms Kearney said the backup ensures they have a 24-hour supply to get them through when there is an outage.

"There are over 200 people in this building so there is no way you can open without water for health and safety reasons.

"We have had huge issues in the school with water, the main issue is there is no water and secondly that there is no notice.”

Ms Kearney said the investment , at the school, which has about 20 staff members and nearly 200 pupils, was vital.

"The school had to put those tanks in because of the situation, which cost the school, and we had no choice.
"But before that there would have been a closure or two every year.

"If you have backup tanks you have water for a day but the pressure then is so slow and takes a long time for them to fill up.
"But if the water was gone for more than a day we would be off the way we used to be.

Ms Kearney said the worst part was arriving into the school following an outage and 'trying to phone somebody to find out what was happening' and get answers.

"The problem is if they fix one it leads to more pressure further down and the system can't cope and the next thing bursts.
"The pipes are in a very poor state," she added.

Ms Kearney said they believed there would be upgrades and improved water infrastructure following the opening of Center Parcs.

"That is what we expected but we have been told it would be a few years," she added.

Mrs Kearney criticised the lack of communication' when she telephones Uisce Éireann.

“Alot of times I am told there is no issue, no bursts, no problem, it's really poor as regards information.

"You are not getting up to the minute information on the situation.

"It really has become impossible since Irish Water took over, and before that we, at least, had communication with the council.
"Now you can't get speaking to anybody or the people you talk to have no idea about anything."

Paschal Lyons, who runs a pub, post office and a shop in Ardagh, believes the main problem is a pipeline between Carrickboy and Ballymahon, which supplies Center Parcs.

"The pipeline that is in the ground there is asbestos, which is very unusual.

"This asbestos pipe bursts on a regular basis and they regularly have to repair it.

"There is no notice and and in a business that is particularly difficult because in the bar we can't wash glasses, we have no ice and we can't use toilets.

Paschal said Ardagh usually faces more disruption than other nearby areas during water outages.

"When it does go we are at the end of the line here so some places may be back a few hours before us.

An Uisce Éireann spokeswoman said regrettably, there has been a sequence of unplanned water supply disruptions to customers in the Ballymahon area due to frequent bursts on an ageing trunk water main.

"We understand how disruptive these unplanned outages can be, and we regret the inconvenience they have caused.

"When any unplanned outage occurs, our crews are dispatched immediately to carry out repairs and restore normal supply as quickly as possible.

"We appreciate the ongoing patience of our affected customers as we work to resolve the issue with the trunk main.

"Regarding, Ardagh it is in an elevated area and has historically had pressure issues. 

"The supply to Ardagh comes from the Richmond reservoir and is pumped to a station at Ardoghill. The way the network was originally configured means the water is then pumped around the back-of-the-hill towards Ardagh village.  

 "Following repair works, it typically takes three to four hours for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network it can take longer.

"As part of the National Leakage Reduction Programme, Uisce Éireann is currently in the final stages of the tender process for a project that will replace over 5.4 km of old and problematic water mains prone to frequent bursts and outages along the N55 between Carrickedmond and Ballymahon. 

Uisce Éireann said due to the frequent bursts on this section of the network, they have prioritised this project.

"Once the necessary regulatory requirements are completed and before this project moves to construction, Uisce Éireann will proactively communicate clear details of the project to the local community and related stakeholders in the area.

 "Our water services crews will continue to find and repair bursts on the network as soon as they become aware of them and restore normal water supply for our customers as quickly as possible. 

 "Uisce Éireann carry out extensive communications to ensure all stakeholders are updated. Uisce Éireann proactively issues press releases to print, broadcast, and online media outlets and news desks in Longford in advance of any significant outages, water restrictions (planned works, water supply interruptions, boil water notices or do not consume notices) and project milestones etc.

"Our press releases and updates are issued to all media outlets in Longford, to all Elected Reps in Longford, the Contact Centre, promoted on social media and on our website.

"All press releases that are issued to the media are also shared with Councillors, TDs and Senators (all Elected Representatives) via Uisce Éireann’s Local Rep Support Desk as well as local business stakeholders in the area including local branches of Chambers Ireland etc. 

"The Uisce Éireann website is updated with press release content and our Water Supply Updates portal, which is on the homepage and is the most frequently visited page on the website, is updated with the latest information," she added.

The Uisce Éireann spokeswoman said they utilise our social media channels to assist in communicating to our customers and use X and Facebook for geographically targeted posts when appropriate to do so.

She stated Uisce Éireann’s customer care team is available 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For further updates, customers can visit the service and supply section of www.water.ie  

The spokeswoman said Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at the text alerts page.  

Uisce Éireann advises that, as best practice, homes, and businesses have on-site water storage tanks to provide a backup source of water for sanitation purposes in the event of a water outage. However, we understand this may not always be feasible. 

"It's very urgent at this stage because it's causing major problems," he added.