REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES, ENNIS, COUNTY CLARE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES, ENNIS, COUNTY CLARE TUESDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2009
Dia dhíbh a chairde, it’s good to be here with you in Ennis this afternoon, even if it is in such difficult circumstances. I would particularly like to thank Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy, the Mayor of Ennis Frankie Neylon and Tom Coughlin, the county manager, for their warm welcome here today. My visit here today is an opportunity for me to express my solidarity with all whose homes, businesses and farms were damaged by the floods and to say thank you to those who worked and continue to work on the crisis management and clean-up efforts.
County Clare suffered badly in the floods. Ennis, Springfield, Clonlara, Shannon Banks, Carron and Tubber all saw families evacuated from their homes and businesses and agricultural land flooded. The flooding was a frightening, disorienting and deeply upsetting experience for many in county Clare. As well as the damage to buildings, many key roads were unpassable, leaving some areas cut off with children unable to attend school. The response to the crisis situation throughout the county was rapid and comprehensive, with the crisis management committee at the Council Headquarters, Áras Contae an Chláir working to coordinate the various emergency response teams. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Clare County Council, Ennis Town Council, the Gardaí, the Army, the Health Service Executive, the Fire Brigade, the Civil Defence and the Office of Public Works for their combined response. I know that staff from these agencies worked around the clock during the crisis period and I thank them for that. I would also like to express my sincerest thanks to the many voluntary and charitable organisations who also put their shoulders to the wheel in an impressive show of community spirit and generosity. These include GAA clubs, community organisations, and neighbours, friends and relatives of those affected. I am also told that the Council’s helpline received numerous offers of assistance from members of the public, including machinery, equipment and accommodation to alleviate the difficulties experienced by those directly affected. This massive team effort and the spirit in which it was undertaken shines through as a story of generosity, care and consideration, a modern-day example of the ancient Irish tradition of the meitheal. All those who participated can be rightly proud of their efforts.
I know that the recovery and clean-up work goes on long after the waters have subsided and I would like to thank everyone involved in the on-going effort to help homes and businesses recover from the flood damage. I am delighted to learn that thanks to the tireless efforts of a number of agencies and voluntary organisations, the most urgent remedial works have already been completed and all the evacuated families have been able to return to their homes in time for Christmas.
Although the trauma of the floods remains fresh in our minds and while there is still much work to be done, I am very pleased to see the enthusiasm and energy and positive attitude of all the organisations and individuals represented here today. I am confident that their combined efforts will help county Clare get back on its feet and I wish you all well. I hope that the festive period will be as peaceful and comfortable as possible and that the recovery and clean-up will be completed as soon as possible in the New Year. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.