VIDEO: 'Small business has been forgotten by this government' as Bandon begins Storm Desmond flooding recovery

On Saturday night the only thing coming through the door of Deasy’s pharmacy in Bandon was flood water. Yesterday, it was customers and Christmas decorations.

The floor of the pharmacy — in operation for some 300 years in one form or another — may have been stripped. However, the window display was going up, come what may.

Today, after all, is December 8, the traditional pre-Christmas shopping day. Owner Jo Deasy was so intent on getting back to business that she said: “I will be putting down carpet this evening, if I can achieve it.”

It was a similar story in many of the shops clustered around the town centre: Mops on the go, boxes of rubbish or damaged stock for clearing, a strong smell of disinfectant. They all had something else in common: A palpable sense of anger and frustration.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney admitted he’d received a flea in his ear as he walked the town. His party colleague, Jim Daly TD, was beside him.

Back in his office — itself hit by flood waters — there is a pile of leaflets declaring “Bandon Flood Relief Scheme on track to be completed in 2016”.

That’s one piece of literature that needs updating.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and Jim Daly TD take a tour of the premises which were flooded on Saturday night in Bandon, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

A few doors up, in Shorten’s clothing and footwear store, Jim Deane recalled the marathon eight-hour water pumping stint that began at 11pm Saturday as he and others fought the flowing tide.

“From the time we started, people were coming in,” he said. “I don’t know where they came from, we had to turn people away. The only thing we were short was the politicians.”

Across the road, Frank O’Leary already reckons the damage will cost up to €20,000, and maybe more. At the time of the huge flood of 2009 his insurance payout was is the region of €400,000.

Frank O’Leary of O’Leary & Daughters, Bandon, Co Cork, looking to get his business back together after the flooding on Saturday. Picture: Dan Linehan

Now, like others, he can’t get any flood insurance and is firmly of the view that the Government needs to find a way to help businesses in this predicament.

“If this happened again I wouldn’t have a choice but to get out,” he said bluntly.

“Small business has been forgotten by this government.”

Frank’s shop has been trading since 1919. Arif Masih, chef at the Punjabi Curry House, has been trading for three weeks.

All his savings went into getting his restaurant up and running.

Arif Masih cleaning up his Punjab Curry House after the flooding in Bandon, Co Cork — it only opened three weeks ago. Picture: Dan Linehan

Then the weekend happened, his clay oven, freezer and other important items damaged beyond repair.

“We are thinking something, but God is thinking something else,” he says. “I am not giving up.” He plans on re-opening as quickly as possible but it is a time of uncertainty. “Maybe some Angel of God will send some help,” he said.

Arif did get a holy visitor; Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Paul Colton, visited Arif, a parishioner, and others yesterday.

He said: “I know people are very stoic but people are near breaking point emotionally, and some economically, and they need help.”

The bishop didn’t need a pulpit for the next line, one many people in Bandon agree with: “People can’t make empty promises, they have to deliver on them.”