Lucy Mandal

Can increasing the flood resilience of Monasterevin through nature-based solutions improve connectivity within the town?

Monasterevin is a residential town located in the south west of County Kildare, on the border of Laois and Offaly. It is known as the Venice of Ireland due to the intersection of the Grand Canal and the River Barrow to the west of the town. Although water is a prominent feature in the identity of Monasterevin, the town faces the challenge of frequent flooding due to its ecology and land use practices. The soil type of the town is predominantly peat which has been drained for agricultural use. Drained peat becomes impermeable creating water-logged conditions and making the town more susceptible to ground water flooding.

Monasterevin is less affected by fluvial flooding of the River Barrow and more prone to surface water and ground water flooding caused by rainfall. When the town floods it disconnects the residents from the primary areas. I propose addressing these challenges using nature-based solutions such as sustainable urban drainage systems and bog restoration to absorb excess water. By using nature based solutions I am designing with the natural ecology and flood patterns of the area, rather than using traditional flood resistance measures, making the town more resilient to the impact of flood events.