On 26 February, SpongeWorks was officially launched in Aughrim, County, one of its eight Associated Regions. The event drew over 90 attendees, reflecting strong local interest in Nature-based Solutions for climate and water resilience – just weeks after the area was hit by severe flooding during Storm Chandra.
Tackling Floods with Nature and Community
In late January 2026, the region was severely hit by Storm Chandra. Heavy rainfall overnight saw a rapid rise in river levels across the catchment. 50 houses and several businesses were impacted by flooding. There were also reports of damage to properties, damage and flooding across local road networks and development of gullying in the uplands. The farming community face challenging circumstances with the land to saturated to allow for use by livestock or machinery.
Wicklow has joined the SpongeWorks Associated Regions to pioneer Nature-based Solutions across its landscapes, strengthening flood resilience, boosting biodiversity, and improving water quality, with the ambition of becoming a leader in climate adaptation and community-driven innovation. As part of a collaborative learning network, SpongeWorks Associated Regions share knowledge, build capacity, and scale up sponge solutions, helping to enhance climate and water resilience not just locally, but across Europe.
In late January 2026, Storm Chandra triggered rapid river rises and flooding across the catchment, damaging homes, businesses and roads.
The launch featured talks from Chairperson Cllr. Melanie Corrigan who highlighted the power of local knowledge and community involvement in climate action, and Professor Mary Bourke of Trinity College Dublin, who explored the evolving challenges facing catchments and landscapes in a changing climate.
Jim Callery, Wicklow County Council’s Climate Action Officer, highlighted the lessons from the recent flooding during Storm Chandra, stressing the urgent need for practical, locally tailored measures to build resilience across the catchment. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between councils, NGOs, stakeholders, and communities to deliver lasting results and explained that by joining SpongeWorks, Wicklow a