FARMERS in the
Inishowen peninsula are out assessing water-logged
fields and counting the cost of yesterday’s flash
floods on their livestock and crops.
Representatives say they're expecting reports of
animal losses in the coming days after two major
rivers, the Crana and Foyle, and other smaller
waterways burst their banks due to torrential
downpours lasting several hours.
One farmer worked throughout Tuesday with the help
of friends to rescue 54 sheep trapped in a corner of
a field in the Burnfoot area. Many other farmers had
to scramble in treacherous conditions to move
animals to higher ground or indoors where barn space
was available.
Irish Farmers' Association representative in Donegal
Charlie Doherty said while wet weather was forecast
for the area, the severity and duration of the
thunder storm took many by surprise.
"We've all seen torrential downpours before but it
was the prolonged nature of these ones that caught
people out - I've never seen anything like it.
"The real danger was for the sheep in fields beside
rivers that wouldn't have been able to get to higher
ground and could have been swept away in the strong
currents.
"People are still assessing the damage and we won't
know for a few days exactly how bad the problem is.
But all the livestock are out in the fields at this
time of year and the potential for losses is high,"
said Mr Doherty.
Mr Doherty, a potato grower, said he suffered a
small amount of damage to one field but is thankful
most of his crop is safe. He said he knew of at
least one pig farmer in the peninsula who is also
counting the cost on his business.
Mr Doherty said he received multiple calls for
sandbags from residents and businesses in the
Bridgend and Burt areas hit by the flash downpours. |
