Take it seriously

joy res

I walked through the Viking Triangle in Waterford City on the New Year’s morning  and came across a Christmas Tree graveyard where I took this photograph. Some thirty decorated Christmas trees were dumped there like no longer worshiped idols. The Holidays are over.

Holiday season in Ireland was darkened  by severe and extensive floods that hit the country in the end of December- beginning of January. Property and farmlands are damaged, people are devastated after losing their possessions and security of their homes.

I haven’t been to the flooded areas this year, but I have some pictures taken during the flood in 2009 and 2013.

At this stage, River Suir looks fierce and beautiful – Clonmel 2013.

flood

Carrick on Suir in February, at high tide the same year.

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This flood is already getting out of hand…

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flood

In summertime,  River Suir can be so shallow that in some places a heron can cross it without getting his bottom wet.  Now the river looks like a lake – you can watch  Cyril Helnwein‘s video and take a 6 km kayaking trip from Clonmel to Kilsheelan – not only down the river…

Unfortunately, there is no fun at all in getting flooded.

For many flood victims, this is not the first time they have been flooded in recent years and they face the current crisis without insurance coverage. Murky brown floodwater, sometimes more than a meter deep, causes permanent damage to almost everything.

Some  farmers have to evacuate their cattle to the neighboring farms. Feed and pastures are destroyed, and it will take months the land to drain and recover its capacity to grow crops. People blame the EU Conservation Program.

Floods have always been around, they are natural. Much of the flooding is  caused by bad planning, allowing  roads and houses to be built on natural flood plains. It seems that unpopular decisions are required, like relocation of  businesses  and people.

Now that the worst seems to be over, it is time to start thinking about the next flood, and take it seriously.

On a lighter note – we can also dream 🙂 This  sweet girl lives in the place where it is snowing in winter. What is she dreaming of?

snow

This lovely girl lives in Ireland. May be she is dreaming of a dry, white winter?

2016

Have a wonderful weekend!

100 comments

  2. I didn’t know you made these nostalgic and moody portraits of the little girls. They are very nice! I’m sorry for the floods, but you bring hope with these real nice images.

  3. whew! That is some terrible flooding, Inese. Everything from tragedies to severe inconvenience in flooding, I hope all is settled for now. Lovely photos.

  4. Floods can wreak havoc and cause so many families distress. Recovery takes so long, too. The North of England has had similar floods to those in Ireland. And you’re right, humans are to blame for a great deal of the worst flooding. Like you,Inese, I’m hoping that the new year will bring relief and comfort for those in affected areas. Your photos are excellent, and the two little dreamers are beautiful.

      1. Thanks, Inese. (I’m just reading our last post – and about to comment on that.) We’re having quite a cold weekend here, but it’s been quite dry for a change. 🙂

  5. My Filipino friends have had their families back in the Philippines get everything ruined. We collected clothes where I work at the warehouse for those who are back “at home.” I liked your remembering floods and focusing on the people, Inese. Your last two photographs are so sweet and evocative of wistful hopes and dreams. ♡

  7. How sad to hear of this extensive flooding that is damaging farms and homes. I feel for those flood victims.
    Your photos are striking.
    The last two photos are very beautiful. You are a very skilled, soulful photographer. Congrats.

    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment, Cynthia! Community members did a great job helping the flooded clean up their homes. Such amazing spirit!

  8. What strength these people have! Here in the state of Washington, we have a section of houses, built on a flood plain, that are on stilts. They’re very strange to see but quite necessary. I hope some kind of solution is found there soon!

    1. Thank you for stopping by! I hope they finally find solution, because the weather is changing and the floods may rise more frequently in the future. It is interesting, the stilts. I have never seen such houses, have to check out in Google.

  9. I feel terribly sorry for people who lose their homes or have their lives severely disrupted. I think you are spot on about one of the main reasons, though. It’s a very short-sighted idea to give planning permission to build on a flood plain. Another problem is removing meanders to increase the speed of navigation since this greatly reduces the carrying capacity of the river.

    1. They would better leave the rivers alone, you are right about the planning permissions. People will come and go, but the river will always be there. Some homes are flooded because of the barriers built upstream though.

      1. Rivers are tricky things to control. I think any building around them has to be done in consultation with specialists and with more than just an eye on the bottom line.

  11. For a change, we have managed to escape major flooding in Youghal but outside of the town there are bad areas, with some roads closed. Let’s hope for a drier February.

  13. It is certainly sad about the floods… but I like that you spin positivity into the end of the post, complete with photos of two girls thinking of sweet images. I wish you a sweet New Year, my friend

  14. My community has been flooded 3 times in the past 25 years, the most recent flooding this December was mild compared to the last two. It takes years to recover. My heart goes out to all those struggling is floods around the world. And beautiful photos of young dreamers. I hope we make the right choices today so their dreams of tomorrow will come true. 🙂

  15. Flooding, like you said can have devastating effects. So hope things get better soon.
    Your photos are as always great though. They never fail to impress me.
    😊

    1. Thank you so much! I took a few more shots of the trees and decorations that time. Seeing the Christmas trees dumped in a huge pile was somewhat surreal.

  18. Hi Inese. For some reason, this post didn’t come to my email. WordPress seems to have a grudge against me lately.
    Thanks for sharing more of your marvelous photos. (The water was a bit frightening. Mother Nature, always fierce.)
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
    Hugs,
    Teagan

    1. Thank you Teagan! 🙂 It is already a year since WordPress started a war against my account, so I am not surprised. Come when you are ready, you are always welcome! 🙂
      Hugs!!!
      Inese

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