Business owners in city breathe a sigh of relief as majority escape significant flood damage

BUSINESS owners in Cork city centre breathed a sigh of relief yesterday morning as the majority escaped damage and could reopen their doors following significant flooding on Wednesday.

South Terrace, and adjoining streets, were seriously impacted by surface water, as were North Mall and the South City Link Rd after what has been described as a month’s worth of rainfall in just 24 hours.

Lavitt’s Quay, Popes Quay, and Wandesford Quay were also badly flooded, as well as Blackpool village.

Speaking to The Echo, the executive head chef of The Frawley Group and Manager of Cornstore and Coqbull restaurants in Cork and Limerick, Mike Ryan, said that he was just grateful to be in a position to reopen the doors yesterday despite a loss of business on Wednesday.

“It was Junior Cert day and there were a lot of bookings with families but understandably, the majority cancelled,” said Mr Ryan. “At least we can open our doors and we’re dry. So, it is an inconvenience but it is nothing like what happened in Midleton and Glanmire where there were businesses and people’s houses destroyed.

“It’s all warnings on what can happen and unless there is something serious put in place, it’s just going to keep happening.”

He said there are many city businesses that do not have flood insurance as they have been flooded before and are essentially playing Russian roulette.

The majority of businesses in the city centre, including along Sullivan’s Quay, Union Quay, Lapp’s Quay, Kyrl’s Quay, Lavitt’s Quay and Pope’s Quay, also escaped flooding but reported a decline in sales as people could not travel into the city centre.

Paul Walsh of The Three Little Piggies café on Union Quay said that while the café was not affected by flooding, that business was down on Wednesday.

“A lot of our regular customers couldn’t get past floods outside the city and I imagine most businesses in the city were down 50% plus,” he said.

Aidan Duke of Duke’s Coffee Company in the city centre also said there have been little to no sales over the last couple of days.

Michael O’Donovan, of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland and owner of the Castle Inn, said Tuesday night and Wednesday represented a 70% reduction in sales compared to the previous week.

“That’s felt by members I spoke to but all are grateful that nothing like East Cork happened in the city,” he said.