Flooding in Bandon – Was it the fault of the planners?

Little did any of us realize how severe the flooding would be.  The planners allowed the Supervalu Shopping Centre and Lidl to be built on what was formerly a flood plain. (Even my map of 1845 show this plain in bold letters).  In the past this plain would have taken the bulk of the water but given the massive bank defenses that the supermarkets erected for themselves, the water had no place to go but down the main street wiping out the little guys that make this town so attractive.

We have a unique town full of all sorts of quirky stores.  Barely one of these stores was left unscathed.  I really hope they re-open but I fear the worst.  These businesses differentiated us from other places.  Lets hope we are not left with goliaths offering mass produced items from China etc.  Even the garlic in Lidl comes from China – How sad is that!!  By doing all our shopping in these huge stores, we are harming ourselves.  We need to become protectionist if we are to save livelihoods.  Support the little guys!!

The Cluid housing for the elderly was built on the weir on the site of a former mill so needless to say, it also suffered massive flood damage.  Residents have only been in this new building a few weeks.  These people aren’t so nimble that they can quickly leg it up the stairs at a moments notice.  Did the planners think of this?

Even the pavement was uprooted

The community turns out to fill sandbags

The old Flood Plain

A sorry sight in South Main Street, Bandon

Bandon Flooding

The exceptional amount of rain has turned the Bandon river into a full scale torrent flooding parts of South Main Street causing businesses to close.

Flooding in South Main Street in Bandon

The Bandon River in full flow

Bridge Street, Bandon under water

Bandon Playground under water

Marmatiece – Bandon

Marmatiece in Bandon has now opened for lunches during the week.  Last week I paid it a visit with some friends.  I had a ham open sandwich on white spelt bread which was garnished with salad leaves.  The price was euro 6.50. The sandwich was tastey and the price was reasonable.

I like the airy atmosphere in this bistro at lunch time and think that the menu is overall well priced as well as interesting.

Aga Saga solved

Happy Days!  Graham Summerskill is the aga expert and he took very little time to fix our aga.  He works out of Waterford so covers a wide area and is well worth waiting for!!   Forget Murray Cleaning and Maintainance – A total rip off.  We were left minus our oil meter on our oil tank and a bill for euro 365 for an aga that was still broken.

It took Graham Summerskill just 20 minutes to figure out the real problem and a few days to order the new part – More importantly at euro 178, his bill including the part was a fraction of that charged by Murray Cleaning and Maintainance – And remember, Graham has to travel from Tallow in Waterford.

The Ireland rip off days are over so wake up Murray Cleaning – Once bitten, twice shy.  We won’t be recommending your aga servicing ability to anyone who has any sense.  Lets hope that a few people benefit from this blog!!

Bandon’s winter plants go on summer hols

Bandon Tidy Towns volunteers have now removed all the tulips and polyanthas from the beds and will put in the summer plants next week.  Meanwhile the tulips have been stored away and the polyanthas have been planted in a shady place for their summer holidays.  Nothing like re-use, recycle.  We thank Cork City Council for letting us have more of their ‘throw outs’ which have now all been planted up and are being fed and watered diligently so that they will look great for next year.

The departure of the Bandon Polyanthas

Bandon Town Hall gets painted

The outside of the town hall in Bandon now reflects the great work done to the inside of the building.  How happy are we all now as it has looked shabby for such a long time.  All we need is the removal of the ugly boarding at the top of the stairs.

Bandon Town Hall's New Image

This blog was posted by Catherine FitzMaurice of Kilbrogan House Guest Accommodation

Bandon’s Allin Garden gets a face lift

Bandon Tidy towns volunteers have been hard at work painting street furniture.  We gave the five benches in front of the Allin Institute a makeover so lets hope that the townspeople approve of the bright cheery red and black seats.

Bandon Cigarette Butt clean up

Bandon is now in week 2 of a Cork region Anti Litter competition.  The week 1 results were a disaster – cigarette butts everywhere – Bandon, pretty much bottom of the league – a disgrace!

2 of us took to the streets tonight (saturday!) in a major effort to rid the streets of cigarette butts.  We spent 2 hours pounding the pavements and picked up mountains of the dreaded butts.  The bookies, the Sanctuary and the pubs (notably The Plunkett Inn) were the worst offenders.  Sorry guys, you have to be named and shamed.  We need help.  We need more butt bins installed by businesses in town.  The businesses are happy when their tills go ching, ching but don’t care what their places look like outside.  If every business helped by cleaning up outside their premises, we would be much better off.  Please don’t leave it to the few who care.

Our prize was an abandoned Lidl trolley behind O’Donovan’s off licence loaded with a euro coin.  So much for all the talk about recession.  Some don’t seem to worry about leaving a euro behind.  Isn’t amazing that even the kids don’t think to bring the trollies back to claim the euro.  Before you abandon your trolley, just think about who gets to bring it back to the store – Bandon Tidy Towns Volunteers.  Save us yet another job and please, take your trollies back to where you got them.

Bandon Jewellery maker

If you are in Bandon, check out BeJewel on Market Quay.  Nathalie Heneault makes wonderful jewellery out of silver and has a showroom full of interesting bits and pieces. Her prices are very reasonable.

Next time you go to buy a piece of jewellery, you might choose to have something made rather than to buy something off the shelf.  Nathalie can match the colour beads in a silver chain to your outfit.  She can custom design a piece of jewellery for a First Communion or Confirmation.  While I was there, she was making a beautiful pendant in the shape of a flower with a girl’s name on the inside.  It was for a First Communion.  Just think, there would be nobody else in the world with the same piece of jewellery.  Her email address is bejewel@eircom.net and her telephone is 023 88 52333

Innishannon Steam Rally

Each year the Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally raises substantial funds for the Irish Cancer Society, a really worthy cause (in 2008 euro 125,000 was raised).  The rally is now in its 12th successful year and takes place over the bank holiday weekend on Sunday, 31st May, 2009 and Monday, 1st June.  If you are anywhere nearby, be sure to visit as it is a great day out.

Steam Engine

One of the steam engines which will feature in the rally is kept close to Kilbrogan House.  Its owners had it out on the streets last weekend and its in tip top working order so well done to the Lordans!!

This post is by Catherine FitzMaurice of Kilbrogan House Guest Accommodation