Wet and wild start to the New Year

THE wet and wild weather that battered much of the country over the Christmas holidays and the New Year also left its mark across the Southside.

In South Dublin the county council was kept busy as they responded to a series of reports from members of the public as a result of the adverse weather conditions.

There were reports of 24 fallen trees prior to the Christmas period and 10 reports after Christmas Day regarding fallen or dangerous trees in green spaces and public roads, which in some cases caused minor road blockages.

A number of traffic light signals were damaged and while there was no major flooding there was some surface water pooling across the county due to blocked gullies and there were incidents of spot flooding on the N81 (Tallaght By-Pass).

The water section of the council responded to disruptions in several areas of the county where customers experienced reduced pressures or loss of service for a short period due to burst water mains.

Referring to the number of downed tress, Cllr Trevor Gilligan in Clondalkin said it was something he never thought he would see.

“I am told time after time by residents that if there is a strong wind, the tree outside their house will collapse,

? he said.

“It is hard to believe, but it has happened.

“Multiple trees were uprooted and fell due to strong winds. Three have fallen in Monastery Estate, while many others have also been uprooted.

“It is pure luck that no one has been injured or that more damage was done.

?

He added:

“In almost every estate in Clondalkin, the trees are too big. The trees simply are not suitable in housing estates. Many say that I’m against the environment because I ask for certain trees to be removed.

“But that is simply not the case, I ask for the trees to be replaced with smaller, more adequate trees.

?

Meanwhile, a man who had been kitesurfing off Sandymount had a lucky escape when he was rescued by the RNLI Inshore lifeboat from Dun Laoghaire.

The incident occurred at around 10.40am on New Year’s Day when the man was kitesurfing with friends about 150 metres from the shore in breaking surf.

“When he experienced difficulties he abandoned his equipment in an attempt to swim to safety but was prevented from doing so by tidal conditions,” a spokesperson said.

The casualty alerted the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination (MRCC) and the RNLI Inshore lifeboat (ILB) along with the Coast Guard unit from Dun Laoghaire were tasked to the scene.

Shortly after launching at 10.50am, the ILB, with three volunteer crew members on board, experienced heavy conditions at the harbour entrance due to the 25-knot south-easterly winds and building seas.

Stretching the operational limits of the lifeboat to the limit, the crew again encountered breaking surf along the entire shoreline from Blackrock to Sandymount before reaching the casualty’s position which had been located by the Coast Guard unit in a shore search.

Due to the high risk of capsize, the casualty was taken on board the lifeboat which returned to Dun Laoghaire shortly before midday.

“Despite the conditions, this rescue demonstrated the capabilities of this small but highly effective lifeboat and its crew,

? said Stephen Wynne, Lifeboat Operations Manager with Dun Laoghaire RNLI.

“Considerable skill is needed to avoid capsize while rescuing a casualty.”

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) praised the work of the rescue team.

“Without the intervention, coordination and expertise of the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination (MRCC) the RNLI Inshore lifeboat (ILB) along with the Coast Guard unit from Dun Laoghaire, in all probability loss of life would have occurred,” he said.