On Monday morning 7th December, the Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton, spent several hours in Bandon, County Cork visiting business people and traders whose properties and livelihoods have been jeopardised by the weekend floods in the town.

A chance meeting on the streets of Bandon during Bishop Colton’s visit this morning with (l-r) Councillor James O’Donovan, local businessman Jim Deane, Andrew Coleman and Bishop Paul Colton. (Photo: Denis MacCarthy)

The Bishop was accompanied by the Rector of Bandon, the Reverend Denis MacCarthy, and by the Curate, the Reverend David White.  As well as meeting the people directly affected, it was an opportunity to meet with members of the community out shopping in the town, as well as local politicians and representatives who were also out and about in the town.

Bishop Colton said that

it is humbling and encouraging to see the community spirit, the stoic determination of those most affected, as well as the selfless way people are supporting one another.  In particular, I was really thrilled to hear some local business people speaking about how the young people of the town came out in large numbers to assist businesses as the flood waters rose on Saturday evening. It was heart-breaking too, however, to meet a parishioner who had opened a new business only three weeks ago, who had been unable to secure insurance, who has now lost everything.  Obviously, therefore, there is also fearfulness about the future and real anger, and I add my voice to those in Bandon as they press for the strategic flood defences and drainage works, promised in 2009, to be delivered.

Here are more photos out and about in Bandon this morning: