Battles fought to stop waters

Householders and businesspeople prepared for the worst last night as rising sea and river waters threatened many areas along the south-east coast, as well as some flood-prone towns and villages inland.

High tides and storm surges threatened to overpower areas like New Ross; parts of Waterford City; Tramore, Dungarvan, Passage East, and Cheekpoint in Co Waterford; Ballyhack and Arthurstown in Co Wexford; and other outlying districts.

Sandbags were handed out by local authorities in the most vulnerable areas, including the Poleberry area of Waterford City where the John’s river flooded up to 150 houses on Monday morning, with the city council placing sandbags across the width of one of the streets.

Bath St and the Old Tramore Road were closed by gardaí to prevent traffic coming through any flood waters.

The Suir broke onto the quays in Waterford city centre before 9pm as the tide reached its peak, while the quays in Dungarvan were also closed as well as the Youghal Rd on the edge of the town near the sea wall, and the promenade and surrounding areas in Tramore.

In Passage East, which suffered some of its worst ever flooding on Monday because of high tides, large sandbags were placed along the quay in the meantime and prevented much more water getting in last night.

“The tide is just on the turn now. We got water in all right, but not as bad as yesterday,” said local publican Mossie O’Keeffe of the Camán Inn.

The quays in Clonmel in Co Tipperary were closed by the borough council and gardaí at about 6pm as water gushed through the shores, though the high river remained below the defence walls which were installed as part of the town’s flood relief scheme.

The road along Convent Bridge, adjacent to the Presentation Convent and schools, was also closed, as well as the new Dry Bridge in the Old Bridge area of the town, which is part of the flood defence scheme.

There were power cuts in parts of Tipperary, including parts of Clonmel, Fethard, and Cashel, as well as parts of Co Waterford including Cappoquin, Tramore, Old Parish, and Faithlegg on the Suir estuary outside the city.

The Marsh Meadows area of New Ross was flooded by the River Barrow for the second time in two days and the quays were closed to traffic.