Abbeyfeale Mart in Co. Limerick has said it will reopen this Saturday, November 30, following “severe flooding” in the mart over the weekend.
The mart had cancelled its cattle sale on Saturday, November 23, due to flooding during Storm Bert, which has caused some damage to the mart.
Mikey Ward from Abbeyfeale Mart said the water inside the mart had risen to a “couple of feet” high. There was no livestock in the mart during the flooding.
The floods knocked over a wall and the office at the mart was waterlogged, which affected all computers and the electrical system, Ward told Agriland.
While the damage to the electrical system is yet to be fully assessed, Ward, who works in cattle sales at the mart, said the mart will reopen for its cattle sale this Saturday.
Storm Bert
The past week was much wetter than average nationwide, largely due to rainfall associated with Storm Bert, with rainfall accumulations generally ranging between 175% and 400% of average, Met Éireann said.
The wettest conditions were recorded across the west and southwest. The national forecaster’s weather station in Valentia, Co. Kerry recorded the most rainfall with 119.1mm through the week.
There was less rainfall in the midlands and east, with 28.5mm recorded at Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin. This week will generally be more settled at first, but turning more unsettled by Thursday and Friday.
Rainfall amounts will be near or slightly above normal for much of the country, though some western coastal areas will be wetter. Accumulations will generally be between 15mm and 50mm, Met Éireann said.
Currently, well drained and most moderately drained soils are saturated, while moderately drained soils in the northwest and all poorly drained soils are waterlogged. This is, in large part, due to rainfall associated with Storm Bert.
The national forecaster said limited drying and further rain and showers in the week ahead will lead to a slight deterioration in soil conditions.
Well drained soils will remain saturated, while most moderately drained soils and all poorly drained soils will be waterlogged, according to Met Éireann.