10.7 Rivers and Human Interaction The town of Mallow in Cork has a long history of flooding from the River
Blackwater. Records as far back as 1628 detail damage to structures in the town from flooding. It has been a common occurrence in the town ever since.
A ‘Flood Relief Scheme’ for Mallow was planned. The aim of the relief scheme was to try to prevent serious damage to local homes and businesses from flooding.
1600
Reports that ‘this day past the Blackwater, by reason of the greatness and height thereof, he [a man travelling through Mallow] was not able before this time to pass’
1600 1578 Reports of
someone who ‘was delayed for a considerable period at Mallow
by a summer flood in the Blackwater’
1700 1628
Reports that ‘… the river suddenly rose eight feet higher than was even seen by the oldest living man. It carried away the bridge at Mallow.’
1853 Reports that
extreme flooding had caused ‘the bridge [to be] almost totally
swept away by a flood event’
1800 1875
Reports of disastrous floods causing
extensive damage to houses, household goods, shops, cattle and crops
1916
Reports of disastrous floods causing
extensive damage
1900 1969
Significant flooding, with
irreparable damage caused
Being numerate:
1. How many large flood events were recorded from 1916 to 2004? 2. Which two flood events had the shortest time between them?
Floods in Mallow 2009
1980
Extreme flood
event, with serious
flooding in Mallow
2004
Significant flooding
2000 1988
Significant flooding
2006–2009 Construction of the relief scheme
10
Managing myself:
If you lived in this area, how would you feel if the flooding affected your home or school?
