President Mary McAleese has paid tribute to the way the people of Cork reacted to the recent flooding.
Mrs McAleese visited Cork this morning to meet representatives of the various agencies involved in tackling the flooding crisis that hit the city at the end of last month, damaging properties and leaving over 50,000 people without fresh water.
"While the floodwaters have subsided and we've come here today to say a million thanks to all the people who spontaneously did so brilliantly during that terrible inundation, that awful moment of crisis," she said.
The President said the response of the emergency services was "outstanding".
She acknowledged the distress of people whose homes were damaged or destroyed and encouraged members of the public to donate to charities helping those affected.
"The people of Cork need no encouragement, they are goodness personified," the President said. People were "tripping over themselves" to help, she added. "Nature gave her worst, and human nature gave her best."