Midleton is back in business: “We won’t let a flood defeat us”

THE goodwill and community spirit shown to businesses in Midleton, after Storm Babet, has given traders hope and optimism for the festive season ahead.

Many businesses were left destroyed after the storm wreaked havoc and chaos in the town on October 18, when a month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours.

But the storm Grinch did not steal Christmas.

“The powerful spirit of the townspeople was alive and well after the storm hit,” says Barbara Hurley, who owns Denbar Jewellers on the main street.

Everyone was out and about supporting each other; the goodwill and support proved greater than the flood.

There are two notices on Barbara’s window that tell their own tale. They say: ‘Thanks to the boys and girls of Scoil Bhride’, and ‘Our spirit lies not in our whiskey but in the hearts of the people’.

“The kids from the local national school came in to help us clean up,” says Barbara.

“There was something special and unique about that. As parents, you often wonder if you’re rearing your kids the right way.”

The children’s hearts are in the right place.

“They were so kind,” says Barbara.

“The kids came to help out of the kindness of their hearts. The utter goodness in their hearts was wonderful to see. To see it first hand, that stood out for me.”

Barbara was able to salvage something close to her heart. There is something special and unique about the impressive chair in the corner of the shop.

“My late sister, Orlaith, who owned the boutique High Society across the road, gave me that chair,” says Barbara.

It is something I really treasure, and I was so glad that it didn’t get damaged in the floods.

Barbara was decorating her Christmas window when the floods hit.

“It was the speed of it that was so frightening,” says Barbara.

“There was no time to take anything off the floor. Luckily, my stock is on high shelves. The shop floor was destroyed. I felt helpless. The water flowed down from Connolly Street.

“It was like a tsunami. From that moment, Rachel and I just knew that complete devastation and carnage would result.

The next day we saw people along main street dumping their stock. They were dumping their livelihood. Some of the stock hadn’t yet been paid for. It was like something out of a movie.

The fight-back, reopening doors for business again, has provided a happy ending.

“All about town, there was an over-riding sense to get our heads down and get back on our feet,” says Barbara.

Everyone had a little help from their friends.

“If we stuck together, we could stay optimistic,” says Barbra.

“We all had the belief that we were capable of opening again and having a great Christmas.”

And it’s beginning to look a lot like the festive season in Midleton.

“The shop is now restored,” says Kay Reeves, of Cali Boutique in Main Street Midleton.

“Since the Christmas lights were turned on, it’s a case of best foot forward. I was able to do that with the fantastic support from the community.”

The floods started as a trickle before the floodgates opened.

“The water came in front and back,” says Kay.

“My shop floor was torn to pieces. All my stock was destroyed. I had to remove it all and order in new stock.

“Loyal customers wished me well and the massive support I experienced was a very uplifting experience. The townspeople were all very helpful and we all looked out for each other. There was a lot of positivity.”

There were a lot of people coming to the rescue.

“My husband Gordon was a tower of strength. He is a safe pair of hands!

“We left by the back door. Afterwards, I heard from local businesses that they wanted to rescue me amid their own turmoil. 

Everyone was numb and in disbelief.

Kay, with an air of joie de vivre about her, firmly believes in bouncing back.

“I am a bit mischievous!” she says.

Kay doesn’t take life too seriously. She looks on the right side of life.

“I like to enjoy life. I don’t look back. I only look forward.”

Lynda Corigliano looks back 48 years since she opened La Trattoria with her husband, Pascale.

“Midleton has always been a great town for business,” says Lynda.

“I enjoy every day working in the restaurant.”

Wednesday October 18, wasn’t a great day.

“In the space of 20 minutes we were in three feet of water, and everything was gone. The water came in front and back. Then we got out ourselves.

“I remember looking outside at a van in the street, and the water was up to the handle on the door. We waded our way up the town as far as AIB.

“On the way, my husband helped an elderly lady get to the top of the town. The other day she came in to thank us.”

Lynda thought she’d never again open. But she did.

On a sunny Friday mid-morning, the popular restaurant is buzzing. People are dining, chatting and laughing. They are all there for each other and for Lynda and Pascale.

“The floods were so devastating,” says Lynda.

It was soul-destroying. We were lucky that we had a home to go to.

“The water was thick with mud and so dirty. We thought we’d never again open. We looked at each other and said, ‘we’re finished’.

“Our friends, our family, our neighbours, all rowed in to help us. They never stopped working to help us get ready to open up again. The phone never stopped ringing with offers of help”.

The townspeople and the tradespeople stepped up to the mark.

“Plumbers and electricians arrived with offers of help,” says Lynda.

“Benz Softwash did a great job cleaning inside and outside the premises. This was the second time we got flooded. The support was fabulous.”

The people of the town of Midleton always turn up.

“We are back doing business and we’re looking forward to the run up to Christmas,” says Lynda.

“We survived this time. I’m not sure we’d survive if we got flooded again. For now we’ll keep going.”

Ina for Flowers has been going for 17 years in Midleton.

Rachel McCarthy always liked smelling the roses.

“I dropped out of art college when I was 18 and came to help mum in the flower shop for two weeks. I never left!”

The shop made a great comeback after the floods. The spirit of generosity has never left.

“After we reopened after the floods, people were ordering flowers for no reason!” says Rachel.

Good things happen to good people.

“We reopened quickly, on the Monday after the floods. We had so much help from friends and family. My ‘girls’ in the shop helped out the entire time.

“My brother Ross, an electrician, brought all his apprentices in at 6.30am to get up and running again. I’d like to thank them so much.”

Main Street in Midleton is alive and well again.

“The street has got it’s life back,” says Rachel.

The shop was always Rachel’s life.

“I never dreaded going to work,” she says.

“I never got Monday morning blues. After the floods, it was the first time I didn’t want to come in. We were cleaning and clearing for a week. 

We dumped stock, Christmas props, antique props, it was devastating.

The cavalry arrived.

“Local school kids arrived with sandwiches, lads from the rugby club helped clear the floor of furniture so we could clean the space behind. The local support was amazing, and it gave us hope.”

Rachel loves trading in the town she loves so well.

“We love being part of the Main Street community,” she says.

The florist is busy.

“This is the busiest year yet for vouchers,” says Rachel.

It has been a dramatic year for the town of Midleton.

“It was the worst of times for the town,” says Rachel.

But like the phoenix, it rose from the ashes.

“Midleton is a brilliant town. We won’t let a flood defeat us.”