Army moves in after river bursts it banks
Residents near the Shannon fear homes will be destroyed
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THOUSANDS of residents living along the Shannon were last night fearful that extensive flooding would destroy their homes.
Water levels on the outskirts of Limerick city remained stable but many homes remained under threat after the lower section of the river burst its banks; and last night, the Clare Crisis management centre warned of further severe flooding.
In Athlone, the Army was drafted in to assist householders affected by flooding -- with an estimated 50 houses evacuated. Residents in 22 homes in the Shannon Banks area of Corbally, Co Clare, were forced to evacuate last night along with a small number of homeowners in Clonlara and Carron, Co Clare.
Some of the evacuees stayed with family or friends, while more were accommodated at Jury's Inn in Limerick city.
One of those evacuated was elderly woman Nora Mason (80) who previously left her home of 60 years earlier this week. She then had to flee her daughter's house yesterday morning.
The grandmother had to move to daughter Geraldine's home in Springfield, Clonlara, after her neighbouring house was submerged in three feet of water.
Her son-in-law, Joseph Quinlivan, described how the pensioner was brought to safety in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Mr Quinlivan said: "The civil defence and the Army helped us take her out of our house in the back bucket of a tractor and on to a low loader and about half a mile up the road." Mr Quinlivan praised the local community for their help. "The people of the parish in Clonlara and neighbouring places around came down in what was like a convoy with tractors and trailers and sandbags. There were young fellows not even 10 years of age wading through water carrying sandbags," he said.
At Shannon Banks, Barry Sheehan and Kevin Bridgeman were doing their best to protect their homes last night.
"I am living here 25 years and I have never witnessed anything like this. From what I see, the water is still getting higher, the pumps don't seem to be able to do anything for it," Mr Bridgeman said.
Sandbags
"I am living next to the bank and I am constantly watching it to see how high the river will get. Everyone here is nervous," he said.
Water was lapping at the front entrance to Barry Sheehan's home throughout yesterday. Trenches of sandbags have been erected at the house and neighbouring properties.
"It was panic stations beforehand but hopefully it will be ok. We have to wait and see how things pan out. My seven-year-old daughter and six-month-old son are staying with relatives while all this is going on," Mr Sheehan said.
Clare county councillor Pascal Fitzgerald appealed to anyone not living in the affected areas to stay away as they were only hindering the efforts of emergency workers.
Last night in Ennis, 108 homeless flood victims were spending their fifth night in emergency accommodation at Ennis's West County Hotel.
In Leitrim, motorists were being urged to only undertake essential journeys as the county endured a further day of flooding yesterday.
At the University of Limerick campus, 490 students residing in Thomond village were without water for 24 hours. Water was turned off in the student village as a precautionary measure and the students affected were bussed to the University Arena to avail of the shower and bathroom facilities.
The Army was drafted in to assist householders affected by flooding in Athlone yesterday. An estimated 50 houses were evacuated on both the east and west side of Athlone town.
The Army set up a base at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone. Up to 80 members of the Army worked closely with members of the local authority to sand bag parts of the town yesterday.
- Barry Duggan, Anita Guidera and Eoghan McConnell
Irish Independent
