I realize that everyone has their own storm story, but here is mine and I felt I had to record it before the memory faded.

Our youngest has been going through an erratic sleep pattern, so when he awoke at 6AM I didn’t take much notice. Once I put on the pump feed for him, I drew the curtains on the landing and peered out at the lashing rain, and howling winds. I had heard the weather forecast the previous evening and was thinking of the storm alerts for Kerry and Cork. “We’re not getting it too bad” I thought. When my wife woke and we were listening to the weather warnings on the radio, I mentioned that we had got our version of the storm early.

On the way to Meelick to do a business call, the main N21 was a tad windy, but I didn’t take any real notice. When the man on the radio mentioned that the winds had a tendency to fade and then take real force later on, it barely registered. I got lost several times on the way to Meelick, and my sat nav didn’t help me either. This meant I was half an hour late leaving the appointment. I had 2 more stops on the way home, one at a stationary shop and as I was leaving here I was in the mood for a run. I decided that I would attempt a quick 5KM when I got home before I went to collect my daughter from school. I even stopped at the shop in Adare for messages on the way home.

Leaving Adare, hopes of a run were beginning to fade. More over time than weather. Yes, it was raining but that hadn’t stopped me before. All that would happen was that I’d get wet. However as I was travelling the Ballingarry road from Adare, the weather all of sudden became apparent. The wind was high and I noticed the trees beginning to sway and debris from the trees on the road. Coming up to Neville’s cross the weather was getting worse. A branch was down on the road and the car in front of me stopped to move it. I got out to help, but we didn’t get to the branch. The trees began to sway violently and loud creaking was to be heard. We both just looked at each other and didn’t need to say what we thought. We both ran for our respective cars and started reversing ferociously. We were no more than 400 yards away when the tree came crashing down. With this escape, I headed back to Adare. I turned for Croagh and the wind was getting stronger. I turned up Kiltannon thinking I might get home that way.

I was getting out to move branches every so often, but I got to the top of Kiltannon. I turned for Ballinaguile but only got couple of hundred yards. Tree down. Big tree. Reversed and headed for Neville’s’ cross from Ballinaguile. Turned up the Ballingarry line. Tree down. Big tree. I was now in a conundrum. Usually I collected our daughter at 1:40PM and returned to collect our eldest son at 2:40PM. It was now 1PM, but I was beginning to realize the severity of the weather. I decided to collect the two of them early on the innocent assumption that I wouldn’t be home when I’d have to return to collect our eldest. The road to Kilfinny was just about passable, but wouldn’t be for long I surmised. I got out a few times to remove branches and squeezed past another few. When I got to the school, and telephone pole was swaying in the gale and the car was nearly lifted on its’ side. I got into the school and rushed the kids out the door. Our daughter got caught in the gale and was blown against a wall. She was now terrified and our son was chatting nervously. They were scared, as I now was I don’t mind adding.

Got the Neville’s cross again and the conundrum returned. What road would be free? Ballingarry line was blocked, as was Ballinaguile. I headed for Sullivan’s cross which would bring me to Ballingarry. Blocked. Tree down. Tried to get to the main road via the road to the GAA field. Blocked. Tree down. Big tree. I headed to the five cross roads. Tried to turn up for Mountbrown. Blocked. Tree down. Huge tree. I knew I couldn’t head straight to the main road as that road was flooded. Headed to Rathkeale . 100 yards on, and a farmer was out trying his best to move another huge tree. Had to double back. Where to now? Headed straight and came to the main road. Turned for Rathkeale on the main road. The storm was blowing straight against me and the car was struggling. I was doing that movement that a jockey does on a horse to get them to move faster. A chugging movement trying to encourage the car to go faster! Keep going, we’ll make it!!

The kids were silent by now. They were terrified. But in some way I think the constant travelling was keeping their mind off it. They were amazed at the scenes. I turned into Rathkeale and headed for Ballingarry. It was surprisingly clear. My thinking was that the road was wide enough that a fallen tree wouldn’t cover the entire width of the tree. If that makes sense. It did to me at the time! I turned to head back Lisamote. No joy, tree down. I headed to Ballingarry and turned for Croom. Got a couple of hundred yards and were faced with a scary choice. A tree was half down from one side, but was resting on the a tree that had fallen at the other side of the road. The tree had headed into the field and the roots were supporting the tree that fell across the road. Could I get through under the tree, or was that a risk. The cars in front of me didn’t hesitate and I decided to follow. The kids didn’t agree with my choice. At least I think that’s what they were screaming! Got through and got to Cahill’s cross. Turned down for Neville’s cross. Blocked, tree down. Headed around and turned down at Lisamote cross from the Croom side. Got to Cronin’s, and no further. Huge tree down. I was 1.5KM from home and stranded.

I parked between 2 ESB poles and waited outside a neighbour’s house. The plan was to head in once we got a chance. The storm was in full force and the car was shaking. The little one was in a panic now, and I couldn’t do anything to help. I kept talking to her and out on the radio. It broke the silence and I doled out the water. I spoke to my wife on the phone, which amazed me. We had driven through the eye of the storm in movie like conditions, yet we still had mobile phone reception. For now. After about 20 minutes, it began to abate and we ran into our neighbours house for refuge. Safety at last, an hour after leaving the school.

After about 20 minutes we spotted cars heading up the road, and we realized that the road must be free again. I ran to the road and it was being cleared. I thanked my neighbours for their kindness and ushered the kids to the car. We waited as our path was cleared by our industrious neighbours. Fair play to them for getting out and moving the fallen tree. It’s amazing how people dig in and help out in crisis situations. The road came free and we headed home. Quickly. We made it and the relief was huge. I was on an adrenaline rush. I couldn’t stop talking. Of the storm and of our crazy journey home. I couldn’t stand still. The kids were shattered by it all and when they asked if they could watch telly, I didn’t hesitate. For once, I just gave in and relented.

In hindsight I should have left the kids in school or pulled up somewhere. But for some reason, I wanted to get home. Maybe to the safety that only home offered. And I didn’t want the kids to be scared on their own. I knew they would have been with their pals, but as we know being scared in the school yard isn’t easy. For whatever reason I was glad I got lost on the way to Meelick. It meant that the trees were down when I got to them and I was able to keep moving. Many thanks to all the people who were out moving trees and now trying to reconnect power. The ESB get a lot of flak, but in these trying days they are working their rear ends off.