Drumcondra - Tolka River flood risk?

After a lot of bidding wars, my wife and I have gone sale agreed on a house in Drumcondra, near Griffith park. We’re very happy with the house, but its location by the Tolka River has given me some concern. I see that works were done after flooding in 2002 on the river and it appears there’s been no flooding since then.

My question is for anyone in the locality what were extent of the works and if they think they were sufficient? There’s been heavy, sustained downpours the last year and has the Tolka appeared close to breaching it banks again, particularly in the Drumcondra area?

Current owners say they have flood insurance.

Presumably you have had a look on https://www.floodinfo.ie/

Look for an insurance qoute using that eircode.

Chitown said:

After a lot of bidding wars, my wife and I have gone sale agreed on a house in Drumcondra, near Griffith park.

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A lot of the houses near Griffith Park are on elevated ground which should mitigate any flooding risks. Would that apply to the one that you're looking at? I don't recall any major or even minor flooding problems since measures were taken to improve management of the Tolka and associated water courses in the 2000s. I was only thinking of that picture of Bertie in his wellies in the 2002 floods the other day. I really need to get out more...

In my experience, if a property is within 150m of a river, any river, Irish insurers won’t cover for flood risk.

Even if remedial works have been carried out to capture a 1 in 200 year event (pretty much the gold standard).

Very frustrating.

But that’s been my experience.

I live adjacent to griffith park, and well within 150 metres of the tolka. I have cover for flood risk but with a much higher excess. However in the over 100 years of its existence my house has never been flooded.

As Clubman points out the vast majority of houses in the area are a good height above the river with the park acting as a flood plain. The remedial works competed after the 2002 flooding have significantly helped. I'd suggest talking to your prospective neighbours and finding out the history, as well as recent experiences.

Not aware of any flooding since and it’s a lovely location, Griffith park is lovely in a nice day now with updated playground, cafe and library beside it. However the flood risk map shows how low lying some of the areas are, it’s all relative though compared to Clontarf and Sandymount. It really depends on exactly which road it is,

ClubMan said:

A lot of the houses near Griffith Park are on elevated ground which should mitigate any flooding risks. Would that apply to the one that you're looking at? I don't recall any major or even minor flooding problems since measures were taken to improve management of the Tolka and associated water courses in the 2000s. I was only thinking of that picture of Bertie in his wellies in the 2002 floods the other day. I really need to get out more...

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That photo of Bertie in the wellies is what got me double guessing myself!

Setforlife said:

Not aware of any flooding since and it’s a lovely location, Griffith park is lovely in a nice day now with updated playground, cafe and library beside it. However the flood risk map shows how low lying some of the areas are, it’s all relative though compared to Clontarf and Sandymount. It really depends on exactly which road it is,

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Thank you, that’s helpful.

Northie said:

I live adjacent to griffith park, and well within 150 metres of the tolka. I have cover for flood risk but with a much higher excess. However in the over 100 years of its existence my house has never been flooded.

As Clubman points out the vast majority of houses in the area are a good height above the river with the park acting as a flood plain. The remedial works competed after the 2002 flooding have significantly helped. I'd suggest talking to your prospective neighbours and finding out the history, as well as recent experiences.

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Thank you very much.