Ballincollig, Inniscarra, Carrigrohane floods update

Damage from flooding in the Lee Valley is severe with many roads still impassable. Council workers are working throughout the day and night to alleviate the many problems caused by flooding which have been described by the ESB as a one in an eight hundred year event.

Many local residents claim that they were not informed about the release of water. Over the years they have come to expect this, but never in a lifetime as one resident put it, " have we seen anything like this."

Besides damage to low-lying farmlands, many houses have suffered major damage, with flood water rising to three and four feet in some cases inside the homes. What made it all the more frightening was that it happened at night at around 2a.m. in the morning. All efforts at sand-bagging doors and windows were to to no avail as the water seeped in through air-bricks and through floor foundations.

Many businesses in the area have suffered, while the floods have succeeded in temporarilyclosing the regions most famous public house. The Inniscarra Bar had to postpone itsregular 5 o' clock club due to the floods. In its long and distinguished history, it has stoodthe test of British Army and Black & Tan raids, Repeal Movement rioting and protests, floods, famine and other riotous acts, but his is the first time an event of this magnitude has succeeded in closing its doors to business.

Meanwhile at Carrigrohane the Anglers Rest has been the focus of a lot of interest. Intrepid travelers and amateur photographers from the City and beyond have been beating a path to its door and using its large and riverside garden as a viewing point to watch the floods and devastation all around. "Hundreds through the door in one day," remarked a local, " and not one of the miserable b**T**ds would even buy a coffee."

In Ballincollig local traders were also feeling the pinch, when contacted for a comment, a well known main street trader who wished to remain anonymous said," that the floods couldn't do as much damage to trade as the bomb-site outside our doors, in fact we would swap the floods any day for that stupid Green Route which is destined to go on forever. Mark my words this will be end of some businesses on the Main Street."

Photograph: Damage to the road caused by flooding outside the Inniscarra Bar.