Emily's Story

In late August 1974, a large flood occurred in the Louisburgh-Killeen area on a night that locals still refer to as the night the bridge went. The flood started with very heavy rain in the hills around Curra and Killadoon and also east towards Louisburgh and south towards Cregganbaun. The rain started around six o’clock and the downfall continued throughout the night. There are two main rivers in this area. The Carrowniskey river and the Feenone river. The heavy rain flooded there rivers. At the same time, there was a very high tide (spring tide) which meant the two rivers couldn’t go out to the sea. This meant the rivers got higher and higher. The two rivers met at Bunlahinch lake and from there, into the sea. There was a load of water in the rivers from the rain. Since there was a spring tide the water was going out faster and the river water was going twice as fast. This broke down the bridges and caused the flood. The bridges at Carrowniskey broke at two o’clock in the morning, sometime after that the bridge in Killeen broke too. Lots of hay and turf were washed away and a few farm animals were drowned. No human was injured or died. A temporary bridge was out up in place up at the old Carrowniskey bridge. Sometime after that a new bridge was built. In the end the CIE had to change the big bus that brought the children to school to a mini bus because the bridge was too small. The flood went through the whole night. The most affected areas would be Killen and Carrowniskey. Louisburgh town was not affected as much. The road was blocked up at Furmoyle and Feenone due to the flooded rivers. Thankfully nobody was injured but the night was always remembered as the nigh the bridges went.

Writer: Emily Morrison

Teller: Charlie Morrison

The original hand written story is available below