A runaway barge which broke free from its moorings during flooding was intercepted on the River Barrow amid fears it would hit a bridge further downstream.
The barge broke free at Graiguenamanagh in Co Kilkenny at some point between 10am and 11am, and floated freely down river and over weirs down as far as St Mullins – which is roughly 8km away.
Kilkenny has become the latest area to feel the impacts of the sheer amount of rain that has fallen across the country over the past seven days.
Properties in several parts of the county have been affected, including Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Inistioge and Callan.
"With the length of the boat and the speed it was travelling, it could have been a problem"
John Diamond from New Ross in Co Wexford managed to get a boat ready and come up the river, before securing the breakaway barge just outside St Mullins.
Mr Diamond said outside of securing the boat there was nothing more they could do.
"There was nothing else we can really do with the flow over the lock gates at St Mullins lock. There's no way to get the boat in. She’ll just have to be secured here until further arrangements can be made," he said.
There were concerns that, were the barge could continue further downstream, it could have hit a bridge.
"With the length of the boat and the speed it was travelling, it could have been a problem if it had gone down river and hit the Ferrymountgarret bridge," Mr Diamond said.
"It could've got caught broadside and could have sank at that point.
"It was lucky it actually got over the weirs in St Mullins and that it came down here and was still afloat.
"There is an awful pressure of water coming down river here at the minute."
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Flooding across Kilkenny as heavy rain swells rivers
