This website has been launched due to the concerns and fears of Clonmany Residents regarding Clonmany Enterprise Development Limited's recent development proposal for the Parochial Field (Festival Funfair Field) and its management of the Clonmany Festival.

The development proposal has revealed and highlights major flooding concerns for the area.

The ever-increasing scale of the Clonmany Festival and its impact on the residents is adding to these concerns and fears. Clonmany Enterprise Development Limited are the current guardians of the Clonmany Festival.

• A new riverside embankment was discovered at the bottom of Parochial Field. This embankment was built after the 2017 devastating Flood.
• This led to a planning objection highlighting potential amplified flooding concerns for Elderly Residents, Riverside Park Estate (50+ Defective Blocks Homes), Shamrock Park (Clonmany Shamrock FC), Clonmany Community Centre and Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant.
 
• Funding, Management and Operation of the proposed Facilities
• Local community to provide assets, fund and maintain
• Public Toilets
• Kids Play Park
• Funding (upfront and recurring costs) and maintenance (inspecting, repairing, safety standards, cleanliness and upkeep)
• Local Authorities are tasked with providing and maintaining these facilities throughout Ireland
• Appears to be double taxation on local Taxpayers?
• Is this mismanagement of the local community's assets and funds?
• No public consultation regarding the proposed development
 
• Multiple Environmental Concerns
• Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant flooding and impact
• Cross contaminated Community Center flooding in 2017
• Environmental impact of 2017 Parochial Field Development
• Alleged Old Asbestos Pipe
 
• Onsite Developments during the planning process
• ESB Networks Substation in Parochial Field
• Additional Play Park Health & Safety Issues
• Enlargement of the Riverside Embankment - increased flooding concerns
• Onsite Developments ignored in the approved planning decision.
 
• Legality of the 2017 Parochial Field Development
• No planning permission
• No Environmental Impact Assessment
• Subsequent Civil Engineering analysis requested regarding Shed Embankment
• Consultants suggested enhancements/modifications to the embankment ignored
• "to guard against any potential further erosion of exposed soil and to lesson any potential health and safety risks"
 
• ESB Networks Substation
• Initial proposed location in proposed kids play park
• Shed embankment excavated for initial location
• Substation location moved due to proximity to home heating oil tank.
• Signs of subsidence and structural damage to Shed
• Final location of Substation in potential Flood Zone
• Located between proposed Kids Play Park and proposed Shed
• Introduces new Anti-Social Behaviour Concerns
 
• Topography Analysis of Parochial Field shows potential flooding threat to
• Proposed Kids Play Park
• ESB Networks Substation
• Proposed Shed
 
• Office of Public Works 'Flood Risk Management Plan'
• Published 2018, after devastating 2017 flood
• Clonmany assigned No/Low Risk AFA status ( Page 13 )
• Clonmany has not been analysed for historical flooding ( Page 23 & 24 )
• 25 of 26 Donegal AFAs have been historically analysed for flooding
• Non-existent Hydrometric Gauges data affected this decision yet the 'Ballynahallan River' is a 'significant flood risk' ( Page 76 )
 
• Donegal County Council County Development Plan 2024-2030, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment report
• 1 in 100 years, 1 in 200 years and 1 in 1000 years flooding events for Clonmany area
 
• Research in to Clonmany Historical Flooding (non-exhaustive) includes
• multiple Cloudbursts
• multiple Bursting of Riverbanks
• multiple Landslides
• Clonmany Community Centre flooding
• Clonmany Wastewater Treatment Plant flooding
• Clonmany Shamrocks FC facilities flooding
• multiple House and Business flooding
• Riverside Park Estate flooding ( Defective Blocks )
• Big Bridge partial destruction (2017) & four bridges swept away (1945)
• Glenevin Walk destruction
• livestock fatalities
• 'narrow escapes' & near fatalities
• “it’s a miracle that nobody drowned” Mickey Devlin (2:40)
• the unfortunate fatality of a young boy swept away in a historical flood
 
• Clonmany Topographical Characteristics Analysis
• Clonmany's Topographical Characteristics can lead to increased chance of Cloudbursts or Heavy Rainfall.

The OPW and Donegal County Council Flood Risk assessments for the Clonmany area does not correlate with Historical Flooding evidence for Clonmany. Improper or incomplete Flood Risk assessments can hinder proactive flood measures that can often be more cost effective to the Irish Taxpayer. The Public Accounts Committee need to investigate these Flood Risk assessments and other issues with regard to flooding in the Clonmany area.

With respect to the proposed development, there has been no engagement with the residents regarding the need for it and the details of the proposed development plan. A planning objection has highlighted multiple potential concerns, including amplified Flooding, Kids Play Park Safety, Anti-Social Behaviour and Environmental Impact. Initial flooding concerns were expressed and a Public Toilet Anti-Social Behaviour report was forwarded to Clonmany Enterprise Development Ltd prior to the submitted planning application objection; this was duly ignored.

A YouTube video demonstrates and substantiates the threat of potentially lethal flooding possibilities regarding this riverside embankment development. The Inishowen Rivers Trust video 'Night of The Big Flood' provides eyewitness evidence of the devastation and destruction of the 2017 floods in Clonmany.

A 'Night of The Big Flood' (22/08/2017) eyewitness states

The planning application was approved by Donegal County Council Planning Department despite the objections on 22/08/2024 and the decision has been subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

Storm Bert and the Killybegs Flooding (23/11/2024) highlights the immediate need for the removal of this riverside embankment. Storm Bert has emphasized the potential lethal combination of torrential rain and melting snow.

A Clonmany Flooding Feedback Section is in development. This feedback along with the existing Clonmany Historical Flooding evidence will be made available to both the Office of Public Works and Donegal County Council so that a proper Flood Risk Assessment of the Clonmany area can be reached.

Residents and in particular village residents have become more concerned regarding the direction and ever-increasing scale of the Clonmany Festival on multiple points and are disillusioned with the responses from Clonmany Enterprise Development Limited to issues raised.

Occurrences at 2024 August Festival

• Elderly Lady House 1 : Male, face and hands pressed to window peering in, followed by headbutting of window and sexual gestures.
• Elderly Lady House 2 : Multiple attempts to break her window, male perpetrator/s chased off by festival stewards.
• Elderly Lady House 3 : There was an attempt to kick down her door.
• Damage to property : wall covings damage in multiple properties.
• Gardens entered, theft and damage to cherished possessions.
• Public Urination inc Front Doors. Gardens and driveways used as toilet facilities.
• Double digit arrests on opening night, majority drug related.
• Location of Portaloo concerns and Anti-Social Behaviour at Portaloo's.
• Overcrowding and Health & Safety concerns.
• Binion Road Emergency Service vehicle access, illegal parking. General illegal parking around the village.
• Noise Issues : i.e. Night-time - revellers, street cleaning, garbage bin emptying, Portaloo pumping and cleaning.
• Clonmany Festival ignoring resident requests to view the festival's Public Indemnity Insurance. Extremely pertinent to residents that have street property used by festival patrons.

These Anti-Social Behaviour issues are not representative of the vast, vast majority of patrons of the Clonmany Festival, who add and contribute to the festival and to the area. Many of the patrons, street traders and Funfair individuals have become our friends over the years and are given a welcoming return. The on-street dancing of the patrons of the festival is a sight to behold.

This website and its social media entities are in development mode, multiple additions to the website etc. can be expected in the coming days and weeks.

A Clonmany Festival feedback/suggestions/queries form will be added shortly.

Feedback and Suggestions are welcomed from people from the area regarding their concerns, experiences and suggestions regarding the Clonmany Festival and the Proposed Development. All feedback is appreciated, big or small. Residents can share feedback anonymously or provide contact details. All GDPR protocols will be observed. Residents can submit or withdraw feedback multiple times.

The feedback will be collated and prepared to provide the Residents with a platform to raise issues with Clonmany Enterprise Development Ltd, An Garda Síochána, Donegal County Council, Local Businesses, Local Organisations and other relevant bodies that it deems appropriate.

Essentially, the Residents' concerns need to be heeded and acted on to make the Clonmany Festival viable and sustainable going forward.

The outgoing TDs and the 2 Inishowen 100% Redress Party Councillors have been contacted via email (19/11/2024) regarding these issues.