HUNDREDS of acres of farmland were under water in the south of Fermanagh this week as a result of heavy rain and thawing snow.
Construction work on the new canal bridge at Derrykerrib was one of the worst affected areas, with farmers on the island voicing concerns that the heavy rain forecast for this weekend could leave them stranded from the mainland.
Suckler farmer, John James Donagho and son, Gerard, are no strangers to issues of flooding.
They were badly affected during the flooding of 2009/10 when the island was cut off for six weeks.
“I was the only one out transporting people to school, getting home helps out in the tractor in 2009.
“After that we had our road raised and we hadn’t had much bother afterwards,” explained Mr. Donagho Sr.
But with the start of work on the €1.8 million new bridge project, to open up navigation up the Finn River from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson, their newly raised road was lowered again by around two foot, leaving the area vulnerable to flooding once more.
“They dug up our high road and made us a temporary road about two foot lower ,” said Mr. Donagho, “We want something done about it. It’s a disaster and it’s going to be an even bigger disaster. We are going to be flooded again and we wouldn’t have this problem if it wasn’t for that digging they are doing.
“It is a quagmire at the minute and an eyesore. They can’t even do any work on it at the minute for all the flooding.
“They are working on it at the wrong time of the year and making things difficult for the rest of us.

“Maybe if it is ever done it will be a good job but at the minute, the flooding is going to come out on to the main road -- not all the flood water has come down our way yet so we haven’t even felt the worst of it yet.”
The road between Wattlebridge and Redhills at Drumboughana was closed since Sunday when flood waters broke, covering the road to over two feet deep.
And there were concerns that the main road from Newtownbutler to Cavan at Derryelvin would suffer severe flooding before the weekend too.
Erne East councillor, Victor Warrington said areas outside Lisnaskea had once again been affected by flooding, despite previous attempts to address issues with government officials.
“I was told by someone from the Department of Infrastructure that the lake was 15 inches above its maximum level this morning (Wednesday),” he told the Impartial Reporter.
Father of two and part-time farmer, Geoffrey Read, is well acquainted with flooding issues as well.
Two years ago his family were cut off for seven weeks when the Kinmore Road outside Lisnaskea was flooded.
“It’s looking like it could be the same story again,” he said, “I had to take my daughter to school in the telehandler this morning. I know it’s probably not safe, but I had no other option.
“I spoke to my neighbour last night and we decided it might be a good idea to shift our vehicles to the other side of the flooding that was there at that stage.
“I was glad we did. I marked the flooding last night at 8pm and went to check it this morning: it had risen by four inches.
“I would say that well over two thirds of my ground is under three foot of water right now. The house and shed are on a height so we are okay that way at least.
“The problem we have is that one side of the road has subsided. We have raised that issue before but no one seems to be worried about us to be honest.”