“It’s very hard to be in a house for over 30 years and close the door and walk away.”
Liz O'Brien and her husband John, who live in the Kilganey area outside Clonmel, Co Tipperary, were advised on Saturday evening by gardaí and the Civil Defence that they should join other residents on their road leaving their homes because of flooding or the threat of flooding.
Unlike most, however, the O’Briens chose to stay, despite the fact the water has been in their house for the last week and has surrounded it at an ever-increasing height since the weekend.
“I’d be more anxious being away, not knowing if the house was on fire because of the electrics and the water,” Ms O’Brien said yesterday.
“I went in 2009 [the last major flooding incident in Clonmel] but it’s only myself and John now. You’d be more worried when you have kids here.”
The couple’s four children are now grown-up and living away from the home on the banks of the River Suir which has been hit by flooding nine times in three decades.
Pouring in
At this stage, Mrs O’Brien is close to quitting. “It was at its worst last night. At about five o’clock in the morning I came out and it was just pouring in the front door. I give up now. I’m done, I’m really done, I’m just done. I can’t take it, nine times in 30 years.”
She is undecided as to whether they’ll stay in their home long-term. “I don’t know if I can hack it.”
Several inches of water have covered the inside of their two-storey home since Tuesday night, prompting them to lay down concrete blocks as a form of causeway around the building. While the electricity remained working up to last night, two fridges have broken down, while much other furniture, flooring and personal effects have been destroyed.
“It’s the things like photos. You can go into Tesco and replace other things but you can’t replace those.”
Meanwhile, “the smell in the house is awful,” she says. “I’m in wellingtons trying to cook sausages or toast or soup.”
Despite a day of respite from the rain yesterday, the O’Briens don’t know when their home will be free of water. “It’s worse now than ever.”
Several families along the road left their homes late on Saturday night when part of Kilganey was evacuated because of the ever-rising flood waters.
However, after less rain than expected overnight and a largely dry day yesterday, those families were advised they could return to their homes.
For the O’Briens, what should have been a festive season to remember has turned into a nightmare.
“We were 40 years married on St Stephen’s Day and had a big party planned for New Year’s Eve night,” Ms O’Brien said.
“Gone. How could you bring in anybody in that?”