Even hardest of times couldn't kill Midleton's spirit

Clair O’Brien and Betty O’Riordan of O’Brien Interiors. Were among those who bravely reopened their stores businesses. Many remain in disrepair.  Picture: Chani Anderson

Even the hardest of times couldn't kill Midleton's spirit, with businesses and homeowners all finding hundreds of new friends rallying to their side since flooding decimated the East Cork town.

As scrubbing and cleaning and removing contaminated stock and homeware continue after Storm Babet, the main street is once again alive with activity, between volunteers going door to door to help where they can, or local people eager to spend their money to support their own.

Staff at Ina McCarthy Flowers have spent days getting up and running again, bolstered by an almost continuous presence of volunteers helping out, providing food and drink, or replenishing stock like Taylor Nelson of Glanmire-based Between The Briars florist who arrived with pots of fresh flowers on Monday.

Rachel Sheehan and Lauren Coppinger said the support for Ina McCarthy Flowers has been the silver lining.

"The community support is the reason we are able to open again. It's been incredible," Ms Sheehan said.

Volunteers from local schools and the Midleton Hub have been lauded.

While not all businesses are near reopening, there are enough trading doors opened that it resembles a bustling market town Main Street once more.

However, staff at Ina McCarthy Flowers warned that businesses cannot rely on goodwill alone - the €70,000 rescue package for businesses being touted by the Government will not match what has been lost by some businesses, Ms Coppinger said.

Staff at Ina McCarthy flowers smiling in the face of adversity. Despite continued flood warnings the community spirit in Midleton is keeping the town afloat. Picture: Chani Anderson

It also doesn't solve the torment of premises in Midleton not being able to get flood cover from insurance firms, she added.

"Some people are terrified of even opening again, such is the constant worry."

That warning has been echoed by Midleton Chamber, which said that even if the initial €20,000 being offered by the Government as part of a €10m package is raised to €70,000, it still wouldn't cover some businesses that have lost around €200,000 on initial examination.

Chamber president Adrianna Hegarty told RTÉ News at One that a €70,000 cap would not be enough for refitting and restocking, as well as damage repair.

Some businesses are estimating more than €200,000 is lost, with restaurants particularly vulnerable, she said, as she echoed calls for long-mooted flood defence to be speeded up.

"It's really about getting past planning the next stage, which is likely to slow things down. So that just needs to be expedited," she said.

Niamh Brosnan of Brosnan's Pharmacy, who told Environment Minister Eamon Ryan directly how much help the town needed on his visit last Friday, told the programme that €70,000 would not nearly be enough.

"I've lost computers, all my floors, all my units, and my shelving, they're all wafting and swelling. Fire doors will have to be replaced. Ordinary doors, just the floor alone will be tens of thousands. 

"Not to mind fixing the units. And then the exterior of my shop is actually chunks of timber that have been carried off in the water. 

"Personally I can’t see €70,000 even covering all of that. We have no flood insurance at all just because we're in Midleton," she said.