Lord mayor offers aid to flood victims

THE lord mayor of Cork is to co-ordinate financial aid to families who have suffered considerable loss from the November 19/20 flood.

Councillor Dara Murphy has urged people in need of cash to write to his office in Cork City Hall “so families can have a proper Christmas”.

People affected by the worst flood in living memory are being urged to contact him, even if they live in the county. People have been very generous with donating clothing and equipment. But what we need now is money,” Mr Murphy said. He launched the project yesterday in the presence of aid agencies, some of which have already set up bank accounts for donations.

Ted Noonan, national honorary treasurer of the Irish Red Cross, said it was issuing application forms for financial aid which could be used to apply for funds through the lord mayor’s office. These forms can be downloaded at www..redcross.ie

Donations can also be made to the Red Cross at three banks. The AIB has an account number 3362-7078 and sort code 93-10-12. Cash can be paid through Bank of Ireland account 7741-7197, sort code 90-00-17 and Ulster Bank has the account number 4026-2122, sort code 98-60-70.

Padraig McCarthy, regional administrator with St Vincent de Paul, said it had opened a donations account at AIB at 66, South Mall. Its account number is 4709-2772, sort code 93-63-83. See also www.svp.ie.

He said the society was hosting a special table quiz fundraiser in the Moran Silver Springs Hotel on December 7. Quiz master will be media personality and rugby pundit George Hook and it costs €80 for a table of four.

The lord mayor said he would also be setting aside money for the flood appeal from his Christmas Charity Concert which takes place tonight.

Mr Murphy said financial assistance is also available from HSE community welfare officers. Anybody who needs financial assistance is urged to write to the lord mayor in City Hall marking their correspondence ‘flood appeal’.