The Floods In Laois Didn’t Stop These People Enjoying Their Pints Last Night

James Fenton

Laois appears to have been hit the worst of all counties from the floods which ravaged Ireland yesterday.

This morning the army has been mobilised to move into Mountmellick to help with the clean-up operation after ‘unprecedented’ flooding in the area.

Teams assisting with the evacuation of people from their homes due to flooding in Mountmellick at the moment. pic.twitter.com/fw3AT4hdFN

— Laois Civil Defence (@LaoisCivilDefen) November 22, 2017

Laois County Fire & Rescue Service captured this footage this morning, as many areas were hit with floods | More: https://t.co/Xutxl6TjIp pic.twitter.com/TWlh6vGWSw

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 22, 2017

However, for one group of pub-goers, a few floods weren’t going to stop them enjoying their pints.

Dowling’s of Mountmellick shared this pic of the damage to their premises along hardy customers.

Only in Ireland. Bar floods and they’re still supping????????Dowlings Pub Mountmellick, Co.Laois

Insta @deric_tv3 #floods #ireland #sup pic.twitter.com/KNNHCS4KzR

— Deric Ó hArtagáinTV (@deric_tv) November 22, 2017

Newstalk reports that dozens of soldiers will arrive in Mountmellick today. Around 40 families had to be evacuated from their homes yesterday. Padraig Fleming of Laois County Council said:

“There are three major rivers heading towards the Mountmellick town, which is the Barrow, the Owenass and the Blackwater,” he said.

“This has been unprecedented rain that I don’t believe we have experienced before.

“It came in very fast and began then to flow down to the houses.”

He said local services are working hard to help residents, but warned it will “take a few days to assess” what needs to be done to get people back into their homes.

“If the houses are flooded… you know the effect of flooding.

“We’ve seen it throughout Ireland in various places. It destroys houses.”