The people of Clonmel watched in awe last night as their local river demonstrated its might. The town of 15,000 was bisected, east to west, by the raging waters of the Suir. It flooded Clonmel's three bridges, closing them to all except high-sided trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Emergency services remained on alert all night as county council engineers waited to assess the effects of a late-evening high tide on the river.
The town's quayside areas were awash and traffic was diverted around the outskirts.
The river thundered in full spate through the arches of the Old Bridge, carrying with it masses of vegetation, branches and debris.
Army vehicles from the local barracks, manned by soldiers of the 9th Battalion, ferried workers and shoppers who were cut off from their homes on the south side of the river.
Water cascaded over the quay walls, flooding car-parks and streets.
Sandbags provided meagre protection at the doors of several rows of houses as their occupants remained on standby for evacuation. Many residents moved their furniture to upper floors as they waited to see if the water levels would rise further.
"We are keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn't get worse," said acting county engineer, Mr Michael O'Malley, at 8 p.m.
He added that heavy rain was forecast for last night, raising fears that the delayed run-off from the mountains surrounding the Suir Valley could bring further problems today.
Flood waters surrounded Kitty Kelly's pub on the corner of the Old Bridge. They did not deter some intrepid drinkers who waded into the bar to avail of a special "flood offer" of pints for £1.50. Mini-fountains erupted from drains and manhole covers and all traffic lights in the town were out of order.
The main Waterford road out of Clonmel became a broad lake, half a mile long, and impassable. Traffic was diverted around it.
Several restaurants and other businesses were forced to close early as water flooded in.
With the nearest Suir bridges at Kilsheelan and Ardfinnan also blocked by floods, a number of motorists were tempted into trying to get through. "We are towing in cars all day," said Mr Gerry Power, general manager of Central Clonmel Ltd, a garage beside the Old Bridge.
The Town Clerk, Mr Con Murray, said that emergency plans were in place to help residents whose homes were threatened.
The Red Cross and other services had been contacted and several offers of emergency accommodation had been received.
As the turbulent brown waters of the Suir continued to wash over its banks, a canoeist in full wet suit paddled his craft nonchalantly along the route signposted "Riverside Walk".