The Flooding of a Chapel in Donegal.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 573, 2 November 1880, Page 7

The Flooding of a Chapel in Donegal.

Full particulars have now been received of the flooding of Derrybeg chapel on a Sunday. An appalling peal of thunder was followed by a downpour of rain comparable only to a waterapout. In a few moments the brook was swollen to such an extent that the arch under the chapel was not spacious enough to permit the rapid volume of water to pass through. The flood then formed into a lake on the upper or mountain side of the building, and a quantity of the water passed between the chapel walls and the cliffs, which formed a lake on the seaward si' e of the building. The people were engaged in their devotions, and although water was observed trickling along the floor, no serious alarm appears to have been felt. The doors were fast closed, and no considerable body of water could enter the building by these means. Suddenly the increasing volume of water burst open the doors, which are about Bft wide, and a great wave rolled into the building. In two minutes the house was filled to a height of 12ft from the floor, and in almost an instant men, women, seats, hats, caps, and other wearing apparel, were floating about in one homogeneous mass. Panicstricken and wailing in their terror, men and women struggled to reach the walls ; some clung to the floating seats, and thus reached the windows. Then by breaking the glass they were able to climb the sashes ladderfashion until they were out of the reach of the black waters. The windows now bear the marks of that fearful hour of agony, the sashes being smeared with the blood of the unfortunate people as they broke the glass in their endeavors to climb to a place of safety. The Rev. Father M'Fadden, the parish priest, remained on the altar until the water was up to his chest. He then stood on the table of the altar, but as the water was still rising, he grasped some floating seats, and by these means he and some others were able to reach the high window behind the altar, and, by breaking some of the glass, to get hold of the window-sashes. The priest, from this point, advised the people to keep cool and collected, as their only chance of safety. For an hour the water continued at its full height, and then abated. The doctor of the district was promptly on the spot, and Father M'Fadden's house was converted into a temporary infirmary, where those cut and bruised had their wounds attended to. Five bodies have been recovered. Two elderly men were found drowned near the door. The bodies of a boy about 12, another lad about 16, and a married woman were found washed ashore on the banks of the river about half a mile below the chapel at Tullagh. Many more are missing, and a great many are maimed. Some horses were also swept away by the flood and drowned.— Home paper.