President Michael D Higgins greets locals at the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy on Monday. Pic: Christy Farrell
PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins was delighted to take the opportunity to meet with those who had performed a major role as last week’s floods reached catastrophic level. Speaking at The Presentation Centre, President Higgins said that the people of Enniscorthy should be extremely proud of the reaction and assistance provided by Gardaí, the Fire Service, the army, the civil service, Slaney Search & Rescue and council staff.
“I’d like to take the opportunity to first pay tribute to the services who acted so quickly during the floods. I was extremely impressed by the way local authorities handled the situation and how the army and volunteers came to assist. In these situations, people spring to assist their neighbours – the civil defence, local volunteer groups, the fire service, local authority workers. To come and meet these people is a great honour and it makes me proud to be President of Ireland.”
Speaking of the atmosphere he encountered from his visit to Enniscorthy, President Higgins said that “sadness” was the most appropriate word.
“Here in Enniscorthy, the atmosphere is one of sadness. It’s so difficult for people who tried so hard to stop the flooding, some with partial success, but in other cases they just couldn’t stop the deluge.”
President Higgins spoke particularly about an 82 year-old Mrs O’Connor he met at her home on Island Road.
“I wouldn’t say that there is a feeling of no hope,” he said. “Mrs O’Connor has by no means given up and I sensed in her a resilience. She is as resilient as the rest of her neighbours. I met with her daughter and grandson also. It’s very tough. I would emphasise that these people are not just leaving a house; they are leaving their home.”
Speaking of plans for the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme, President Higgins acknowledged that some measures would have to be taken to help people in the short term, as work is only due to get underway late this year and is expected to take at least three years.
“In the case of Enniscorthy, there is a published agenda and it’s part of a time scale,” he said. “Nobody is suggesting that we ignore coming events in the next three years. The River Slaney presents its own particular challenges. The consultants are in place, the plans are in place, now we just need to look at what to do in the short term.”
In relation to flood insurance, President Higgins said it is not his role to get involved, however, he said “protecting those at least risk for huge profits is not an adequate form of insurance.”
To mark President Higgins’ visit to Enniscorthy, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District, presented the President with the very first in a series of commemorative pins made by local jeweller Walter Bourke, as well as a copy of the 1916 pack which was distributed to schools. Mr Higgins thanked members of the council for their hospitality and said that he wished Enniscorthy a “fruitful and speedy resolution” to its current problems.
Before departing the Presentation Centre with his significant entourage, President Higgins shook hands with and posed for photos with local volunteers, council employees and members of An Garda Síochána.
President Michael D Higgins surveys a flooded home on Island Rd. Enniscorthy on Monday. Pic: Christy Farrell