A farmer who has battled for days to save his €300,000 potatoe crop
after the Donegal floods is hoping he has done enough to save his
livelihood.
Seamus Lynch was left devastated when he arrived at his 125 acres of
crops at Porthall in Lifford early on Wednesday morning.
A combination of a spring tide and the torrential rain which lashed
the north-west on Tuesday night left many parts of his lands on the
banks of the River Foyle waist-high in water.
The experienced farmer knew there was no time to waste and set about
sourcing water pumps to get the water off his land in a bid to save
his crops which also included barley and corn.
He erected seven pumps which have been working around the clock to get
the water off the land.
A team also dug trenches to allow the water get back into the River Foyle.
Seamus’ future is in the lap of the Gods and he will know in around
two weeks time if he has managed to save the crop.
The cost could be huge with each acre of his 65 acres of potatoes
worth up to €5,000 an acre as well as barley and corn worth up to a
total crop of almost €500,000.
Seamus Lynch in one of the fields where his crops have been destroyed due to the massive floods. (North West Newspix)
A frustrated Seamus said “It’s very much a salvage job, just to see
what we can save. We have been pumping out water steady for the past
number of days.
“It’s just so hard to take it all in what has happened. It’s been a
nightmare to be honest. We just have to keep sticking with it.
“We will know the full extent of the damage and what we have been able
to save in a fortnight’s time,” he said.
Mr Lynch is just one of hundreds of people who have been left affected
by the floods which saw more than a month’s rain fall in just a few
hours.
Across the Inishowen peninsula, people are still trying to literally
pick up the pieces five days after the event which changed their lives
forever.
Bernie Kearney, whose home was struck by a mudslide in Urris, has been
forced to board up her home she was so proud of and move in with
relatives.
Bernie, who lost her husband James in a freak fishing tragedy 22 years
ago, knows she will never get permission to build under the hills
which attacked her home on Tuesday evening just after 8.30pm.
Despite this Bernie, who is originally from Gleneely, wants to remain
in the community which has welcomed her and which she now calls home.
“Despite all that has happened here I still think I want to live here.
These people have been so good to me and I feel this is where I will
always belong.”
And despite all the hardship that people have suffered in this
tight-knit community in recent days, there are also signs of hope and
new life.
Last Tuesday, Edel Kerin and husband Damian were due to give birth but
Edel found herself being transported by tractor to escape the floods
in the village of Clonmany.
The couple’s bouncing baby boy eventually arrived on Thursday
afternoon and they couldn’t resist calling the 8Ib 4oz bundle of joy,
Noah.
Donegal County Council staff have been commended by their reaction to
the mammoth task involved in the clean-up and rehoming of people.
A total of 17 families have been left homeless as a result of the deluge.
Council staff have worked over the weekend manning phonelines and
offices for people with emergency situations or simply looking for
advice.
A council spokesman said “We are open again today (Sun) in Buncrana
and Carndonagh providing emergency housing assistance. We are working
with each household affected with a view to determining what
assistance is required beyond the initial period of emergency
accommodation as it is likely that some families will not be able to
return to their homes for some time. If you need our help just call in
or phone 074 91 53900 or out of hours call 074 91 72288.”
As well as householders, sporting and voluntary groups have been left
with a huge headache s a result of the flooding with clubhouses
destroyed and equipment ruined.
The council is reminding these organisations that they will be covered
by a scheme run by the Irish Red Cross.
“The Irish Red Cross will administer an emergency humanitarian support
scheme to assist small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting
bodies affected by the devastating floods in Donegal.
“We expect that details of the scheme will be made available shortly
and we will keep you updated,” said a spokesman.
However, communities too are taking a lead role in helping themselves
and supporting their neighbours.
Buncrana GAA club yesterday held an open afternoon for anyone
affected in any way by the floods.
Trained counsellors, people from the Department of Social Protection
and Samaritans were on hand to speak about issues while the club
also showed the All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Tyrone.
The club’s Health and Wellbeing officer Áine Daly said the idea was to
lend a listening ear in relaxed surroundings with tea and sandwiches
provided.
