‘So high, so fast.. and so noisy’

‘So high, so fast.. and so noisy’

22 October 2025

RESIDENTS in the Tullybrannigan area in Newcastle have called for “permanent solutions” to flooding in the area following last Sunday’s devastating scenes when roads were turned into rivers as torrents of water poured off the Mournes.

Three days worth of rain in 24 hours falling on sodden ground had nowhere to go due to a blocked culvert in Donard Forest, with huge volumes of water pouring into residential areas at an alarming  rate with residents scurrying to protect their homes.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirmed water run-off from the mountains was the source of the flooding and it deployed around 900 sandbags to help people protect their properties.

As the clean-up continues and contractors repair roads which had layers of tarmac torn off by the force of the flood water, calls have been made for an urgent investigation into what happened.

And the spotlight is also being focused on statutory agencies, with questions being asked if they were prepared for incessant rain given the yellow warning that was issued by the Met Office.

Mr Sam Anderson, from Newcastle Regional Community Resilience Group said “temporary solutions” are not the answer.

He said temporary solutions have been put in place in recent years as parts of Newcastle have been hit hard by flooding and revealed a “temporary pump” was used over the weekend which “probably saved homes” but it was a temporary solution. 

“As residents we want permanent solutions,” he declared.

Mr Anderson said some issues like drains being blocked have been raised in the past with agencies, but that “it falls on deaf ears”.

He continued: “That’s maintenance of the rivers, maintenance of the gullies, maintenance of the flaps that protect flood water getting in and out of the Burren river. In actual fact NI Water said they don’t have the resources to go and properly check all the flaps on the rivers.

“We want to see some action. What’s the point in us spending time talking to people? We want action to help get the problem solved.”

The flood swept large stones and debris onto roads in the Tullybrannigan area trapping some residents in their homes, with flooding also reported in other parts of the town.

Described as the worst flooding in this part of the resort for four decades, residents are demanding permanent solutions are implemented so they literally don’t have to live in fear there is heavy rain.

One resident described Sunday’s devastation and destruction as like an earthquake, while another said “the water just kept coming”.

Liz McLaughlin said the water was “so high, so fast and so noisy” that it ripped up sections of tarmac.

“The water gushing out of a wall behind me was like a natural waterfall and down into the garden which was like a swimming pool. I’d never seen the like of it,” she said.

“The main road turned into a powerful, fast flowing river. The water just kept coming and came out of the forest like a torrent.”

The Tullybrannigan resident said the stones being washed past her home were quite big and were “just ripping up the road”.

Ms McLaughlin said she was concerned for the welfare of her neighbours, but said thankfully, all agencies responded quickly.

 Avril Tinson, revealed that a pathway into the forest at the top of the hill in Tullybrannigan was recently resurfaced with very lose, large stones, the majority of which flowed down the road when the water started pouring out of the forest.

“I heard some sort of blockage of a gully in the forest caused some sort of build up and the water came off the mountain at a frightening rate,” she added.

Debbie Biggerstaff said the rush of water was so powerful that it would have “taken you off your feet” with tarmac crumbling under your feet and sinking.

She said neighbours were quick to act and worked together to protect homes.

“We gathered together, with wheelbarrows and picked up debris and helped to protect neighbours. All the neighbours pulled together,” said Ms Biggerstaff.

She added: “Our road is ruined, completely... we don’t want it to happen again. I want it investigated, I think a lot of people were lucky on Sunday.”

Samuel Guist, who lives in the Tullybrannigan Road area, said streams of water were washing down past houses and continuing to rise.

“One of my neighbours who has lived here for 40 years said he has never seen anything like it,” he told the BBC.

Mr Guist said stones and gravel had washed down from the Mourne Mountains making some roads in the area almost impassable for vehicles, with residents shovelling the stones and gravel to make barriers along with the sandbags to protect their homes.

Retired businessman Peter Law was among a group of residents in the Tullybrannigan area trying to clear drains to help alleviate the flooding.

“With the hill behind us all the water is just coming right down here,” he said on Sunday.

“The drains are blocked because of the leaves; we’re doing our best here with limited resources trying to clear out the drains,” he continued, confirming the area is prone to flooding.

Mr Law added: “I remember as a youngster going up and down in a canoe in the floods of ‘66 so it’s nothing new but it does happen every so often, and with all the recent building going on around here, the amount of drainage – the sewers and drains just can’t cope.”

Neville Watson, from the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, said the change in the landscape around a camper in the Annalong Valley area was something they hadn’t really considered. 

“The rivers on either side of where they were camping had swollen and were impassable,” he added.

The rescue team said the camper had expecting heavy rain, but had not accounted for the impact of flooded rivers and when he awoke he was cut off from several approaches.

“Wet, cold and concerned about navigating accurately in the conditions, the individual rightly sought help,” the team added.