Hatches Down Again as Met Éireann Issues Orange Alert

CIsland Page 14-4-2010
Mike Finn at the door of his flooded store in Gort during the 2009 floods. Inset: Castleisland publican, Peter Browne and the opening page of the letter from Gort. ©The Maine Valley Post

There was widespread relief here last evening that the Castleisland Chamber Alliance Street Party got, not only underway, but clean away on an rare oasis on ‘fine’ weather.
In general, people around here have toned down their levels of complaining about the weather. You can blame or bless television for that as the pictures of unfortunate people up along the west coast and around the midlands are beamed to our screens hourly now.

Goodness of his Heart
In the wake of the 2009 floods and out of the goodness of his heart, Peter Browne staged a number of events in his pub here in Castleisland. The resultant collection was sent to a shop in Gort in Galway. Finn’s Furniture Shop in Gort had been badly hit a number of times with flooding and Peter’s kindness resulted in a heart-felt letter to Castleisland from the owners some time after.

Summer Weather Summary 29-7-2009
The Funny Side of Flooding: Brothers, Darren (left) and Jamie Maunsell and Colin McCarthy taking advantage of the immediate aftermath of a cloud-burst at St. John’s Park, Castleisland as the summer of 2009 slipped away into autumn. ©Photograph: John Reidy 29-7-2009

There was also a massive Red Cross appeal which resulted in warehouses being filled with all kinds of household goods, clothes and toys. I presume that money was also donated.

Awful Strain

I know Christmas puts an awful strain of people’s finances and that’s why the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and The Samaritans are so prominent at this time. The people hit so badly by the floods ‘up the country’ – as we say – will face a financial, uphill battle for years to come. And we can only guess at the state of their mental health. The sad and awful truth is that government agencies and insurance companies have a woeful, neglectful, track record in considering, let alone dealing, with the misery inflicted by the weather on these unfortunate and now very angry people.
I don’t know of any appeal being made by any organisation for us to come to the aid of ‘our own’ and flood created poor.
If anyone out there knows of any such appeal I’d appreciate a message.

There are rainfall warning for Clare, Cork and Kerry and prolonged falls of very heavy rain expected during Saturday with totals of 30 to 50mm, larger totals on higher ground. Further flooding is expected.
The following is the Met Éireann forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Munster December 12- 2015
Today

Today will be very wet, with widespread and persistent falls of rain continuing in most parts throughout the day, with a risk of further flooding. However, somewhat drier conditions may develop in parts of north and northwest Munster during the afternoon. Very mild, especially in the south, with maximum temperatures of 8 to 12 Celsius. Very windy in the south and southwest, with strong and gusty southwesterly winds, but winds mostly moderate easterly in north Munster, backing northeasterly later.
Tonight

Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with rain becoming widespread, accompanied by hill and coastal fog. Minimum temperatures 4 to 8 Celsius, mildest along the south coast. Winds mostly light to moderate easterly, but southeast to south along the south coast.
Tomorrow

Sunday will be mostly cloudy, but becoming dry in many areas, especially inland. However, a little patchy rain or drizzle may occur from time to time, mainly near coasts. Mild, in a moderate south to southeast winds. Maximum temperatures 10 to 12 Celsius.