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EVEN THESE DAYS, the Dublin 3 area is no stranger to flooding.
However, nothing experienced in the area over recent decades can compare with what locals went through during the Great North Strand Flood — which happened 60 years ago this week.
Despite the scenes of panic and destruction, only one person — 70-year-old Brigid O’Brien — died on the night of the flood. Another elderly woman passed away from a heart attack several days later in hospital.
It had rained all day long on 8 December…. And as the waters swelled, the River Tolka eventually burst its banks in the early hours, that night.
Hundreds of locals were evacuated from their homes — some by boat. One resident later recalled how the water had reached ceiling height, as the flood continued to inundate the area.
As the Pathé announcer notes in this remarkable clip — a state of emergency was declared in the city. Dublin hadn’t seen flooding like it in around a century.
The Irish Press called it “the worst day following the worst night in memory”.
The railway bridge carrying trains on the Belfast line was washed away by the Tolka waters at around 4.30am — and in the following months, trains on the northern commuter line terminated in Clontarf.
The structure was eventually replaced by a Bailey Bridge, which had been used by the Allied forces to cross the Rhine, after the D-Day landings.
Lord Mayor Alfie Byrne started a relief fund for those affected, raising thousands of pounds, and the following year the mouth of the Tolka was widened considerably.
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The pathe news website have a treasure trove of Irish related footage from Blackrock baths to Cobh and titanic. Their 1916 and war of independence footage is intriguing.
Joe, that was the 1922 War of Independence and the storming of the Four Courts by Collins and his Free State army
Chris there’s loads more than just that
I know that Joe, was just clarifying your point about the War of Independence being in 1922.
Dope
Chris, if you’re going to be a pedantic eejit, at least get your facts straight.
Where exactly did Joe say the War of Independence was in 1916?
Great article. I used to live on Strandville Avenue growing up. Cusacks pub (seen in the video) actually has lots of newspaper articles and photos of the floods framed on display.
Vic did u ever know the sweeneys that use to live there in the eighties .
Fantastic article.
Used to go down the tolka as a kid huntîng rats with me two jack russells
I can also remember floods like this in England from Jan/Feb 1953, so there must have been a couple of years of storms like this.
I remember this well I was ten and I got my first pair of wellies, we could only get out of Portland row by the north circular road as Portland place was knee high up to bins bridge
Our gang walked from the Barn over to see the flood, the canal extension to the Brewery also overflowed into Basin Lane and Longs Place [ The Luas now runs in that canal which was filled in ]
Uncle Mort. Yiz went over to weigh up The Animal Gang.
The Animal Gang was from the Meath Street and Coombe area, the Masie H****** was well known to us as kids and I had an uncle badly carved up by them, vicious mob.
Marrowbone Lane flats Shawn?
That accent – I keep expecting to see Dave McSavage turning up in the video…
And then it burst it burst its banks on 15th November 2002 as there was not adequate flood walls to support the water. Drumcondra, Fairview, East Wall areas were destroyed. We lived in Clonliffe Road at the time and had 6 feet of water in the house. It took us a year to get the house sorted. Plenty frustration with Insurance companies and Builders. It was a nightmare. They did build up the river bank saying it will last but for how long who knows. Every time it rained heavily or I heard the tide had risen I like my neighbours went into panic mode. I couldn’t take the stress so we moved but others couldn’t or didn’t. My heart goes out to them every winter.
RIng a ring a ros……..SPLASH!
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