Meeting in Crossmolina in response to recent flooding
DECEMBER 5, 2015, is a date that will live long in the memory of people living and working in Crossmolina.
For the second time in three weeks, the town centre was devastated by flood waters sweeping through it as the River Deel spilled excess volumes delivered by Storm Desmond over its banks and into houses and businesses alike.
“You literally could not stand in that water. It would sweep you off your feet,” said local man Padraig Lynn talking to Newstalk FM. “It was travelling at 30 miles an hour and anything that was in its way, like sandbags on doorways, was washed away. It would physically wipe children standing in it off their feet.”
Another local, Michael Lynn of Sticks Bar, mistakenly thought he was 'safe enough' in the pub. Then, to his horror, he realised how wrong he was. “As I was coming down the back stairs (to the bar) the water was up above my waist. I went into the bar then and there was stuff floating around everywhere.
“I came out and there was a load of people around so I got a group of people in and they started lifting material, lifting furniture. We tried to lift the fridges but it was too late because the damage was done. There were lads outside pumping the water out of the place but it was so hard to keep going.”
Michael said the people of Crossmolina would like to see a certain local TD observe the damage caused to the town by the floods, but he hasn't been observed in the area. “There's no sign of Enda coming - (not) yet anyway. It's not fair - they're all talk and there's no action. We need answers.
“Christmas is less than three weeks away and everyone is trying to open up businesses again around the area and get back into homes they've been living in for years. What if this happens again a week before Christmas?”
Local Councillor Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) believes three things are needed to prevent such devastating floods again: the river has to be cleaned, a new bridge must be constructed in the town centre, and a new channel needs to be created at a location between Crossmolina and Rakestreet leading from the river into Lough Conn.
This evening (December 10), Crossmolina Community Development Council and the Crossmolina Area Business Group are meeting in Hiney's Upper Deck at 8 p.m. with the aim of establishing an action group in response to the flooding. It's a public meeting and all are welcome.