FLOODING Army, fire crew, council staff swing into action in Portarlington

The banks finally gave way on the River Barrow in Portarlington on the Laois Offaly border on Friday but an emergency response swung into action to in an effort to limit the damage.

Soldiers, fire crew and county council staff sandbagged and manned pumps in an effort to keep the water from destroying properties in the Patrick St, Botley Lane area of town on the Offaly side.

Local photographer Ray Commins was on the scene to capture some of the images of the work carried out by the Irish Army, Laois and Offaly county council staff and fire services from both counties.

Roads were closed and traffic in Portarlington was diverted and at a standstill as routes around the main Barrow bridge were closed due to flooding.

SURVEY REVEALS RIVER WAS ALMOST BLOCKED ON LAOIS OFFALY KILDARE BORDER