Heritage: Shameful treatment of displaced homeowners proved an emotive issue at ‘Flooding of the Lakes’ talk

Huge attendance recently at Blessington Library for a talk and photographic display of the flooding of Blessington Lakes, which eradicated the rural community of Ballinahowan and affected many families in Burgage, Baltyboys, and neighbouring townslands. The lecture, facilitated at Blessington Library was delivered by Liz Gardiner, who  discussed the deliberate flooding of the lakes and the creation of the Poulaphouca reservoir. An ESB initiative by a relatively ‘young’ Fianna Fail government, it was Minister Sean Lemass who signed off on the final order in 1939 with up to 200 families having to relocate. For some, this was an emotive break to a homeland their families had lived for generations. Although the process originally started as far back as 1919, it took 20 years for the scheme to come to fruition. As one of the posters displayed here shows, there was serious  public debate on the matter and sadly, many families really thought it would never happen. But it did, and the compensation/relocation money for the displaced families was derisory, even by the standards of the day. Some farming families found themselves offered £10 per acre for low ground only, flat lands which would be flooded; these were good meadows, good grazing lands whilst others were used for turf, a natural fuel source locally. Landowners found themselves offered compensation only for acreage on flat ground to be flooded, but no compensation for higher ground. Without good grazing and turf, they could not survive on the reduced acreage left on high ground and so, they were forced to move and accept the paltry payment. When one would expect that modern Ireland emerging from British rule would be more compassionate, that wasn’t the case. Some left fine houses, whilst families who were in rented accommodation fared better and were relocated in the area. Lecturer Liz Gardiner described the whole process as being hugely emotive and in many cases, distressing for the families and the community of Ballinahowan which was completely immersed under water. Reputedly, there are still 76 houses under water, along with several Holy Wells and Burgage Medieval Cemetery. People from Dunlavin, Valleymount, Blessington, Humphreystown, Ballymore Eustace, Eadestown, Sallins and Hempstown attended the talk, amongst them, Kathleen Clarke (nee Bolger) whose father and grandfather were moved to a home at Humphreystown where Kathleen still lives. Mrs Halligan of Hempstown, a daughter of Arthur Hennessy along with some descendants of other displaced families, the Keoghs, Byrnes, Clarkes, etc. Deputy James Lawless (FF) attended the event, and his love of heritage and history is well known. “This was a fascinating lecture as part of #HeritageWeek on the deliberate flooding of the West Wicklow Liffey valley to create the Poulaphouca reservoir in 1940. Whilst the project ensured security of water supply to the growing greater Dublin area, it did involve resettling up to 200 families out of their homes. The land commission relocated many into the large estates then being reclaimed from the old landlord classes post-independence and sub-divided. “Many of these families ended up in the areas around Donadea, Newtown and Enfield. It was a Fianna Fáil government that sponsored the scheme and Sean Lemass was the Minister to sign off on the final order in 1939. There is lot of lore around the abandoned villages and it is said a church bell can be heard ringing underwater at certain times and the tip of a steeple visible at low water. Burgage Cross on the lakeshore marks the spot where an entire graveyard was exhumed and moved inland”.   Don Sinclair, former manager of Ulster Bank, Blessington confirmed the treatment/compensation offered to the displaced landowners was derisory and shameful. “This was an amazing turnout at the library” said Margaret Birchall, Manager of Blessington Library. Our thanks to Liz Gardiner for such an interesting topic very close to the hearts of locals, even 70 years later and to all who attended. "We will be having the exhibition and talk again later in the year and I do hope we have as good a turnout with our events during Literacy Week”. Wicklow Co Council Library Service in conjunction with Blessington Further Education and Training Centre will host a series of events from September 11-15 at the library including Returning to Education as an Adul” on Monday 11 at 11am; Further Education Options for Adults on Tuesday, September 12 at 8.30pm; Encouraging the Reluctant Reader on Wednesday 13 at 12 noon; Citizens Information Service How we can help you on Thursday, 14 at 11am, and at 8pm that evening, Reading with your child; a Grand Finale Celebration with various speakers will be hosted at 3pm on Friday 15 September. Feature photo shows Seth de Labre who grew  up beside Poulaphuca Dam and Reservoir perusing the photo-collection of homes and families displaced during the flooding of the lakes.