Irish innovation supporting flood resilience in Texas
The River Sentry story
River Sentry, a flood warning system co-founded by Irish entrepreneur Eoin Guiry, is bringing a new approach to flood monitoring and water safety, with the deployment of its technology along the Guadalupe River in Texas.
Right in the heart of the Lone Star State is one of the states largest and fastest flowing rivers, the Guadalupe River. Starting as speady streams at the tops of the Texas Hill Country, the river flows along the outskirts of San Antonio. Prone to flash flooding, the river poses as a major threat to local communities, with the greater area locally known as ‘flash flood alley’.
The idea for River Sentry emerged following devastating flooding in Texas in 2025, which resulted in a significant loss of life, including at camps and communities along the Guadalupe River.
Meet the co-founder:
Based in Austin, Guiry’s journey reflects both the global reach of Irish talent and the growing role of innovation in addressing climate-related challenges.
Guiry spent 20 years with Dell, progressing from a factory role in Limerick to Vice President of Product Management, with international postings in Malaysia, China and the United States along the way.
He has now stepped away from this role to focus on River Sentry full-time, driven by a shared commitment among the founding team to address the risks posed by flash flooding.
Sounding the alarm
Following the devastation of the 2025 flooding, Guiry looked to reassess how flood risk is typically managed. As the River Sentry team identified, existing approaches relied heavily on data and predictive modelling and placed the burden of decision-making on individuals in high-pressure and life- threatening situations.
“The obvious solution was never built: a fire alarm for floods,” he says.
The obvious solution was never built: a fire alarm for floods.
By prioritising detection, immediate alerting, and clear direction, River Sentry aims to shift flood response from reactive to preventative, ensuring that individuals have the time and guidance needed to move out of harm’s way.
Irish community for good
The development of River Sentry has also been supported by the strength of the Irish diaspora network in Texas. Guiry, who serves as President of the Irish Business Network Austin, noted the importance of that community in bringing the project to life with the network playing an instrumental role in assembling expertise across multiple industries.
In Kerr County, where the 2025 flooding had its most severe impact, River Sentry systems are currently being installed.
With work already underway in Texas and plans to expand across the United States and worldwide, River Sentry stands as a strong example of Irish innovation contributing to global solutions.