Jamie Gunn, Keava Gunn and Simon Kilgannon on their road at Cornaroe before improvements were made
THE small community of Cornanoe, close to Derrylin will no longer be cut adrift with flooding after a new road was built last week to the local’s delight.
The small stretch of road, roughly 200m in length was a frequent trouble spot for flooding and five years ago in 2009 the situation came to a head when the road was impassable for three and a half weeks.
Ann Kilgannon from the area told the Herald that during this period the only way to traverse the water was by tractor with local farmer Joe Gunn transferring three young students to school each morning and local residents to the shop for essential supplies.
Last week the local community rejoiced as Roads Service (Transport NI) resurfaced the stretch and included provisions in case of flooding in the future.
Reflecting on the flooding in 2009 Ann explained how the community were ‘cut off’ by the flooding.
“Cornanoe Road Derrylin, which is a dead end road approximately a quarter of a mile long, was cut off from the outside world. With only one of the five dwellings accessible. Although no water got as far as any of the houses the road it self was badly flooded for about a hundred and fifty yards cutting off the four remaining properties. In these properties live elderly sisters Nancy and Maura Cathcart, Joe and Mary Gunn with their two children Jamie and Keava and myself with my son Simon. The other property is owned by Seamus and Dolly Cathcart.
“With no help from the floodline or any other agency we were left to our own devices. However Joe Gunn and his Ford became our lifeline. Joe and his Ford did the school run two different schools on in Kinawley the other in Derrylin. This meant Joe lost an hours work each morning and each evening. Provisions were got through taking a lift on the link box. Post was collected as no postmen or bin men could access the road.”
She continued: “Then the winter before last history repeated itself we were stranded once again the only consolation was the flood only lasted two weeks that time. Needless to say there were plenty of appeals to the Roads Service to raise the road.”
Ann and the people from Cornanoe are forever grateful to the work of Joe and delighted with their new found freedom.
“Our independence is restored, no more worrying about the rain, or being stranded. Nancy was so delighted she came to me wanting to put something in the paper to show appreciation to Joe Gunn our life saver between us we came up with our wee ode. And of course we are truly grateful to Roads Service for our new road.”
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