Extended family pulls together to stave off crisis following floods
Nora Mason aged 86, left the old family home at Springfield, Clonlara, after it was flooded in the 2009 deluge and never returned.
She now is cared for at St Michael’s nursing home in Caherconlish.
Geraldine, who also lives at Springfield, said: “We had to tell her as we did not want her to learn on TV that her old home, where she reared her family, was flooded. When I told her she sobbed quietly. It was heartbreaking.”
As well as the family home, the home of Geraldine’s brother, John Mason, has also been swamped.
John, along with his wife Gerardine and their son Sean, 18, have been given temporary accommodation in a house in Ardnacrusha.
Geraldine, her husband Joe, and sons Jason, 28; John, 19; and Evan, 18, have managed to keep the flood waters out of their house, but they have to get in and out each day by boat.
Clare Civil Defence and the army share the duty of providing boat transport.
Geraldine said: “Jason has the loan of a boat and he rows in and out of the house every day. He works as a plasterer and his boss has been very understanding.
“Jason cannot get to work on time in the morning as he has to wait until it gets bright to get into the boat. John returned to Limerick College of Education, where he is studying, last Thursday and left in the boat with Jason. He had been staying at home over the past while as we tried to save the house.”
Geraldine appeared on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show on Friday.
She said: “I started my journey to Dublin in a Clare Civil Defence boat. You would not read it in a book — being brought in a boat along a road in County Clare wearing a lifebelt I then got the train to Dublin. I have been going out for shopping by boat. The army also provide a boat along with the Civil Defence. They are great to us.”
As their private well has been contaminated and the septic tank has been flooded, the Quinlivans have to get fresh water brought in every day.
A portaloo has been placed near the house and this costs €90 a week to hire.
Geraldine said: “The oil has also been contaminated and we have no heating in the house. We have had to get in two Supersers [heaters].”
Another member of the Mason family, Patrick, who also lives in Springfield, has had to wage a lengthy battle to keep the waters out of their home.
Geraldine said: “Patrick and his son Brian have been manning pumps 24 hours a day. Things have improved, but we are not out of danger yet.
“We have not put up a Christmas tree or decorations. This has made what we are going through all the more difficult as we have two grandsons, aged three and two, and they have not been able to come to their grandmother and grandfather’s house for Christmas presents.
“When we get out and meet them they see that we are very sad at a time of year when people are excited. This is making it all the more difficult for us. Without word of a lie, it is soul-destroying.”
Geraldine said they have not started to assess the damage incurred and will not do so until all the flood water abates.
“This can never happen again and if things are not done to protect us from future flooding, I will camp outside Leinster House if need be,” she said.
