President meets with those affected by Athlone floods

President Mary McAleese last week met those affected by the recent flooding in Athlone Civic Centre, a visit that was warmly received and deeply appreciated by those gathered, many of whom remain out of their homes after the record flooding. The President, who was accompanied by her husband Dr Martin McAleese, was greeted by Mayor Mark Cooney when she arrived at the Civic Centre on Tuesday evening of last week. Town Clerk John Walsh announced the President's arrival into the council chamber, where she was greeted by a round of applause from those gathered. Expressing her solidarity and sympathy with those who had been affected by the flooding, President McAleese said: "I want to express solidarity with the people who are out of their homes, their businesses, the people, who as a consequence, lost their jobs, the people who are still looking at flooded farms." "This is not the script anyone would have written for the last few months of this year, for what has been a tough year," said the President. She added that when the people of Athlone were strongly tested this community rose up and did what needed to be done and thanked the people for all of their efforts, statutory groups, voluntary organisations and people who had never been organised before for coming together to help those whose homes were flooded or in danger of flooding. "It is a time to be respectful and fearful of nature, but a day to be proud of human nature," she told the crowd gathered in the Civic Centre. The personable President told those affected by the flooding: "I hope you never have to use a sandbag ever again." She then told the crowd a story from her childhood about when her family home was flooded. She said they had had to put sandbags up at their front door and as long as they were in the house afterwards her mother wouldn't allow them to remove the sandbag from the front door, although it never flooded again. Speaking about what lay ahead, President McAleese said: "In the weeks ahead people will need people with energy around them. They will need an energy meitheal around them as their homes and businesses are restored." She added that there were some positives to be found in all of this. "We never lost a hair on a child's head. That is remarkable," she said. "It is remarkable that after the worst natural disaster our country has seen we are able to say that not a hair on a child's head, nor a hair on anyone's head, was harmed." President McAleese took the opportunity to wish the people gathered a happy Christmas. "I want to wish you a much happier Christmas than you could have hoped for even a few weeks ago and I hope you are finding community and family are helping you through this." Mayor of Athlone Cllr Mark Cooney (FG) thanked the President for her kind words. He said it was a great pleasure to welcome her and her husband to Athlone. "Hundreds of our people have experienced damage that will not be resolved for some time. Thank you for showing solidarity. Your words of sympathy and support will be appreciated," he said. Mayor Cooney added that he hoped President McAleese's visit would place the issue in the national spotlight so that the problem could be resolved. Concluding, he said: "Thank you for your presence and we look forward to your return in more favourable circumstances." Deputy Mayor Sheila Buckley Byrne (Ind) presented President McAleese with a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation.