Family's flood threat retreats after €50,000 Limerick County Council works
BROOKHAVEN estate in Montpelier was one of the worst hit by flooding in County Limerick last November, but now they are confident that history won't repeat itself this winter.
Limerick County Council has started over €50,000 worth for works to prevent families such as the Kellihers in Brookhaven seeing water and sewage rush into their homes again.
Catriona Kelliher said: "We can now look forward to Christmas and we won't be afraid when we see heavy rain again".
Cllr Eddie Wade invited John Sheehan, Finbarr Keyes and John Quinlan of Limerick County Council to meet residents.
"They listened to us, took on board our worries, and now the work is nearly finished," said Ms Kelliher.
The Office of Public Works gave funding to Limerick County Council to carry out the work, which included a level and soil survey and a site for a flood relief embankment.
They Council raised the septic tank and a drainage specialist looked at the surface water and foul pipelines between Brookhaven and the River Shannon. A flap valve was inserted on the pipeline as it enters the river to prevent backflow. Work was due to finish this week.
Cllr Wade said a commitment was given when they met the residents that the works would be done and "we are fulfilling our commitment".
"All we wanted to do was alleviate their worries that this wouldn't happen this year. Nobody should suffer like they suffered last year. Ok it was an act of God, but it was unbelievable what theose people and those in Castleconnell had to put up with," said Cllr Wade.
And suffer they did.
"We were crying in November, heartbroken, had no Christmas but we are smiling now," said Ms Kelliher, whose family had to leave their home for three months.
Their neighbour, Valerie Hill, was out of her house for five months.
"Everything downstairs in our houses was destroyed. Our walls had to be replastered, all our floors done, get new kitchens, all our doors. Dampness came halfway up our walls. We also had to repair the outside of our houses, our gardens, take up our patios, garden sheds, lawnmowers everything. The sewerage drains were blocked in the front and sewage and water was coming in the back from the river so we got it on both sides – the front and back " said Ms Kelliher.
Their insurance bill was in the region of €25,000 and now they aren't covered for flood damage.
"We're not covered for flooding anymore, so thank God the council is doing this. We are hoping now that this work is done that next year we will be covered," said Ms Kelliher.
The only positive is the community spirit shown then and now.
"It's a great neighbourhood and we got great help from neighbours, friends and family. People dropped everything and came to help. So many people passed through the house. The council was very good at the time with sandbags, and were out day and night. We just wanted to say thank you to Eddie and the council for doing the works," she said.
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Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South
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