One community digs deep together
IN a remarkable show of community spirit, hundreds of Kildare locals toiled hard in chilly conditions yesterday to allow local children return to school today.
Defence Forces cadets, scouts, GAA and soccer players and even Mass-goers picked up shovels to tackle two steep bridges over the Grand Canal in Sallins.
Showing their support, pubs and restaurants served free tea and coffee to the hardy volunteers.
Fianna Fáil councillor Carmel Kelly, who helped organise the community action, said: ‘It is wonderful. Everyone is in good form and has a smile on their faces. Everyone has been getting cabin fever for the last few days and wanted to get out.
‘Everyone feels like they are doing their bit.’
Pupils use the bridges to get to St Laurence’s National School but the unprecedented weather left both bridge routes treacherous.
Ms Kelly said the snowy scenes had been picturesque but the conditions had proved challenging.
‘We have the two bridges which always cause difficulty, they are quite steep,’ she said. ‘The only safe place was to walk on the main road.’
The canal in Sallins was frozen over as a combination of Siberian cold air and the Atlantic storm Emma struck.
Yesterday, snow still filled a road at Turnings in the Co. Kildare village of Straffan.
It was so high that a JCB digger became marooned. Snow drifts were up to 4.5metres high in some parts.
A 100metre trench had to be dug through a laneway to provide access to one house, with snow walls towering eight feet either side.