Businesses in Bantry in need of Christmas miracle
“Unless there's a boost for Christmas, I don't see some of them making it through the winter.”
The words of Bantry Business Association Chairperson Danielle Delaney who fears some smaller businesses in the West Cork town may be forced to close after last weekend’s flooding.
Following an orange rain alert on Saturday, up to 20 properties in Bantry town were affected by flooding.
Bantry is considered a high-risk flood zone and has been repeatedly impacted by major flood events. A flood relief scheme has been in planning for the town since 2022.
However, Ms Delaney said the people of the town have become used to tidal flooding, but that the town’s infrastructure is not capable of dealing with fresh water flooding as seen on Saturday.
“People are angry, they're upset, but they also just kind of get on with it. They're looking for a solution, but that solution isn't going to happen tomorrow,” Ms Delaney told the Cork Independent.
“There's one shop who got flooded and this was their first year of business. They're now spending all of their money on trying to dry out their floor, so they don't have to replace it,” she added.
It is now “completely essential” that the local community rallies and supports local business in Bantry in the lead up to Christmas, Ms Delaney continued.
“Businesses are just going to close,” she said.
“I think people forget sometimes that when they are buying from a local business, you're supporting your friend, you're supporting you're neighbour, you're making sure that our town stays alive.
“It's extremely easy to just pick up the phone and order anything you need delivered to your door, but that money is leaving your community, it's just gone.
“I work in a restaurant. If I go to town and I buy something in a shop, that person in that shop is also my customer. We're supporting each other,” added Ms Delaney.
Bantry experienced flooding events four times in 18 months between 2018 and 2020 and Ms Delaney said that now in 2024, locals feel there has been no real progress in addressing to problem.
She said: “Four years ago the minister came down and walked through town, talked to everybody, said ‘'This is our plan and these are our preliminary measures', but we just had the exact same conversation again this week.
“The minister told us that a plan is now decided, the entities have decided on how they're going to do this. We just need them to do it fast,” added Ms Delaney.