SOUTH EAST: Householders and businesses in New Ross, Co Wexford, were yesterday attempting to recover from the worst flooding to hit the town in decades.
The overnight storm wreaked havoc throughout the south-east, leaving 8,000 ESB customers in the region without electricity for at least some part of yesterday. All but 1,000 had been re-connected by 5 p.m. and the company hoped to have supplies fully restored last night. Flooding and fallen trees caused traffic disruption, but most places escaped without too much damage or disruption.
The exception was New Ross, where gale-force winds combined with the 9 a.m. high tide to send up to two feet of water on to both the north and south quays of the town. Traffic was unable to get through the town for up to two hours and severe tailbacks built up.
Mr James Wickham, a staff member at John V's restaurant and pub on the south quay, said the flooding was the worst he had seen for 20 years. It had taken two hours to get the premises clean and open for business.
The Custom House restaurant next door was forced to close for the day. Ms Annette Ronan, who runs the restaurant with her husband, said it was clear from 7.30 a.m. that the flooding would be exceptional.
"There was water on the quay at that stage and the high tide wasn't due until nine. It could rain here forever and there wouldn't be a problem, but if the wind comes from the south when the tide is high then the water rises much more ferociously," she said.
A large amount of debris was thrown up by the floods and the problem was exacerbated for residents and businesses by the backwash from vehicles attempting to drive through the flood. "They go faster to try to get through it and they have no consideration for the damage they're doing," said Ms Ronan.
Elsewhere in Wexford, a fallen tree blocked the New Ross-to- Enniscorthy road at Palace.
In Waterford city, the Suir burst its banks along the quays at about 9 a.m., while there was also flooding in the Waterside and Scotch Quay areas. The Newtown Road was closed for a time, also because of flooding, leading to severe delays on the Dunmore East approach to the city.
Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir in Co Tipperary, often among the worst-affected towns during heavy rain, escaped without any flooding. The areas worst affected by power cuts included Dungarvan, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Arklow, Hackettstown and Gowran.