West Cork football club underwater as flooding submerges town

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A West Cork football club was submerged in flooding as pitches were left under feet of water after this weekend's Status Orange downpours.

Bay Rovers AFC postponed all of its games over the weekend as the entire grounds were put underwater. The amateur soccer club serves the entire Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay community.

Bantry town was one of the worst-hit areas on Saturday as torrential rain caused widespread flooding across Cork, with parts of West Cork seeing seriously damaging rains.

(Image: Bay Rovers AFC) (Image: Bay Rovers AFC)

READ MORE: Bantry businesses to get financial support after extensive flooding

READ MORE: All eyes on Bantry - Minister visits flood-hit Cork town as clean up begins

Blocked drains and lashing rain caused rivers of water to rush through the streets, pour into storefronts and damage a number of properties in the town centre. The government has pledged financial support for businesses in Bantry town for costly repairs needed after the floods.

Fianna Fail TD Christopher O'Sullivan said yesterday he had contacted Tanaiste and party leader Micheal Martin, as well as other senior government officials, to ensure that help is provided to business owners.

The scheme would allocate an initial €5,000 for damage costs and an additional €15,000 pending property assessments.

As the rains moved over the county on Saturday evening, the Taoiseach gave a nod to all emergency services who were out in the stormy conditions to clear floodwaters and keep people safe: "Cork floods are a concern for households and businesses. Thanks to all agencies & their staff who are working on the response & will continue to provide support in the coming days. I am being kept updated on the situation. We will ensure those impacted are supported."

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke said on Saturday night that he would seek Government approval to reopen the government’s Emergency Business Flooding Scheme for businesses impacted by flooding in Bantry, West Cork.

Minister Burke said: “I am closely monitoring the reports of significant flooding in Bantry, County Cork and acknowledge the distress and the impact it is having on traders and small businesses. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is liaising with Cork County Council, and I would like to reassure business owners that Government will stand ready to provide support.

“We have previously provided this support through the Emergency Business Flooding Schemes for Small Businesses where businesses, through no fault of their own, have been impacted by flooding events and could not get access to insurance cover. In this event, I will be working across government to reopen this scheme and provide assistance to our much-valued local businesses at this difficult time.”

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