PEOPLE IN the west of the country whose homes, farms and livelihoods were devastated by the recent flooding need to know that their burden is still shared, President Mary McAleese has said.
“We still need the meitheal . . . these people need to know that they are not alone,” Mrs McAleese said in Claregalway, Co Galway yesterday on the second day of her tour of flooded areas.
Insurance companies have indicated that the cost of the flood payout could be €250 million, which would make it the biggest flood payout ever in the State, more than double the highest previous weather-related payout.
“The industry estimates at this point are indicating that it may be in the region of €250 million compared to previous incidents that we’ve seen,” Michael Murphy, managing director of Hibernia Aviva Insurance, told RTÉ News.
Paying tribute to State organisations and communities for “heroic” efforts, Mrs McAleese spoke of the trauma and fear associated with the “extraordinary, capricious and volatile power of nature”, and the despair that followed when people realised the extent of the damage.
She spoke of an “outpouring of goodness and ingenuity and generosity” in Claregalway and other communities, which had given people spirit. The clean-up was a “test of patience and energy”, and she hoped that “victims will feel energised by the enthusiasm of the meitheal around them”.
The community response would be a “story for history books” and a “story for children who found a wonderful community”, she said. “Please God, we will never see its likes again,” she said.
Galway County Council director of services Frank Gilmore said the local authority was “not anticipating something on this scale again”, but assured those present in Claregalway Community Centre that the authority was “planning for that eventuality” nonetheless.
Some 1,300 square miles of Galway had been affected, with “hundreds” of incidents, he said.
He paid tribute to the State services, which were represented at yesterday’s gathering. However, Mr Gilmore acknowledged that without the involvement of communities like that in Claregalway, the local authority would have found it “very difficult to cope”.
Galway County Council and the Office of Public Works were working on a programme of remedial works which would start in early 2010, Mr Gilmore said.
In Gort, Mrs McAleese was given a standing ovation when she spoke of its “fightback” spirit. The President, who was accompanied by her husband, Martin McAleese, also visited Ennis, Co Clare, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and Athlone, Co Westmeath.
The trade union Siptu has donated the €10,000 proceeds of its centenary celebration concert to flood relief in Ballinasloe.
Among those who performed at the concert in Liberty Hall, Dublin were singers and musicians Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Niall Vallely, Jinx Lennon and Paula Flynn.