When Donegal was hit by Hurricane Debbie - Ireland's worst storm in living memory

Long before Storm Debi, there was Hurricane Debbie, which, 62 years ago, made its way here.

It was said to be "the worst storm seen in Ireland since the terrible 'Night of the Great Wind' of 1839 that killed over 300 people across Ireland."

Before its arrival, Hurricane Debbie caused a plane crash which resulted in the deaths of 60 people off the Cape Verde Islands. Then, on these shores, 18 would die, including 23-year-old Susan McDermott, of Carrickanee, Inch Island, who was cycling home from work at Burt when she was struck by the branch of a falling tree.

“As early as 13 September, residents were made aware that a storm might strike parts of Ireland with hurricane-force winds,” The Irish Press said on September 20. “Two days later, forecasters believed the storm would take a more southerly course towards France. This forecast was later withdrawn as the storm failed to turn eastward.”

Hurricane Debbie arrived on the morning of Saturday, September 16, 1961, and according to Met Éireann, a gust of 113 miles per hour, almost 182km/h, was recorded at Malin Head. No wind at the time was ever recorded so high, with the reading at the tip of the Inishowen peninsula the exact same as the previous record, recorded at Foynes, Co Limerick on January 18, 1945. Those records still stand today.

“Deaths occurred due to falling walls, trees and debris as well as drowning,” The Irish Times said. “Four members of one family, driving in Cavan, died when an ash tree fell across their car.’ More than 215,000 homes lost power. There was also extensive coastal flooding and damage to buildings. Up to 7.5 million trees were blown down – between 5,000 and 7,000 hectares of forestry.”

On Saturday, September 23, 1961, The Anglo Celt tragically reported of those who died in Cavan: "Mrs Kathleen Keogan, Ballinagh; her two daughters Mrs Margaret Hyland and Miss Eileen Keogan, a nurse at St. Davnet's Hospital, Monaghan and Mrs Hyland's week-old baby daughter, Katherine Patricia. Miss Eileen Keogan, at the time, was driving her sister home from St Felim's Hospital, Cavan, where she had given birth to her baby girl. Fallen trees elsewhere on the road necessitated them detouring from their normal route."

On September 22, 1961, The Donegal Democrat’s front page read: “North-west licks its wounds after hurricane.”

“Damage running into hundreds of thousands of pounds was caused in the North-West by the hurricane which swept through the country on Saturday leaving an unprecedented trail of destruction in its wake,” the article continued. “In Donegal one life was lost and several people were injured, while the loss to farmers is staggering.

“From all over the area covered by the Democrat, reports have poured in this week of the distaster. No town, village, or farm escaped the havoc of the eight-hour storm, which was the worst experienced in these parts in living memory.

“There is a tragic similarity in the reports received of the damage - rucks of hay whisked away, roofs stripped of slates or thatch, hundreds of trees blown down to block roads, telephone and electricity lines torn away, barns and out-buildings demolished, holiday caravans wrecked, boats smashed and sunk.

“On many farms, stock owners are faced with complete loss of winter fodder for their animals, and hay will be critically scarce before the end of the winter.”

There were a number of narrow escapes throughout the county, with five men in Ballyshannon amongst those who shared their story.

“One of the major effects of the storm was the destruction of the CDR goods depot at Ballyshannon, where a 100-foot-long masonry and timber store collapsed like a house of cards," the article continued. "A number of CDP and CIE workmen had a narrow escape as the shed came tumbling down.

A CIE goods lorry had just arrived at the depot and the crew, Messrs. Paddy Gilmartin and Michael Jennings, with the depot staff. Messrs Joe Thompson, Ed McGonigle and Dan McGroary were about to start unloading.

“All five were in the building when it began to creek and groan. Then the whole structure was seen to sway with the fierce gusts of wind. All five made good their escape just as the building collapsed. Under the wreckage were a ton of artificial manure, furniture, fridges, and other goods.

“The men salvaged what they could and used the old waiting room as a temporary store. The depot is the main distributing centre for County Donegal and its fate now hangs in the balance as if it is to be continued, a new store will be required.

“Whether it will be considered more economical to build the store or transfer the depot to Donegal remains to be seen. A hundred yards from the store the disused signal box was blown over. Despite the herculean work of the ESB and post office engineers, these districts were left without light and telephones over the weekend although, generally electricity supplies were restored.”

There were a number of similarly fortuitous escapes around the county, as the article continued with:

“At Ballintra a large beech tree crashed through the roof. of Miss E Thompson's house, and then a second tree fell to the side of the house. Miss Thompson, who was within at the time the first tree fell, escaped injury.

“During the height of the storm, a Miss Doherty, of the Moville, attached to the nursing staff at Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, was thrown off her scooter on the lonely Meenharness hill road and was discovered in a semi-conscious condition, by the staggering occupants of a passing turf lorry who had her removed to hospital suffering from facial and head injuries.

“In Carndonagh a young girl was hit by a slate and had to be treated in hospital. A number of tomato glasshouses were demolished. A four-berth caravan owned by Mr. Friel, Malin Head, was wrecked.

“Mr Robert Davis, Cloughroe, Drumkeen, aged about 25, had to have several stitches inserted in his head when he was struck by a sheet of roofing iron in his own farm yard, during the gale. He was engaged in securing another roof when he was struck.

“Mr Hugh Coachman, Cranogboy, Ardara, narrowly escaped injury when a tile blown from the roof crashed through the window of his home. Mr John Keeney, Ardara, also had a narrow escape when a tree fell on the spot where a few seconds before he had been sitting in his parked car.”

Bundoran was severely hit, with the impact on Donegal Bay so bad, across the way the McHugh’s guesthouse - now the Pier Head - at Mullaghmore, “the slate roof recently added was stripped and a bed and bedding from one of the rooms was swept outside,” according to The Sligo Champion.

The Donegal Democrat continued: “Miss Emily Maguire, a retired mental hospital nurse of Mullaghdun, Enniskillen, on a fortnight's holiday in Bundoran, while walking opposite the Palace Hotel was struck by a seat blown across the road and was knocked down.

She was attended by Dr. W. McNamee who had her _removed to the Sheil Hospital. Ballyshannon, suffering from a fractured hip. She was staying at the premises of Mrs P Gallagher, victualler, East End, Bundoran.

“Mrs R Foster, of Omagh, who was accompanied by her sister sustained severe leg injuries when the caravan in which she had been holidaying at Bundoran was wrecked. An adjoining caravan had been blown over on top of Mrs Foster's caravan. Mrs Foster, who was accompanied by her sister, had just left the caravan as she became frightened at the increasing fierceness of the storm. She was treated by Dr McNamee and had to have 11 stitches inserted in the wounds, caused by flying glass.

“A Mr Fitzpatrick, on holiday from the USA, received facial injuries when he was hit by a flying slate.”

“The seaweed processing factory of Mr John McElhinney was completely demolished by the storm. Huge blocks of masonry were blown into adjoining property and a 30-foot-long iron 1 girder was found 30 yards away.

“Of the 38 caravans at different sites in Bundoran, only five were left standing. In some instances only the floors were left; bedclothes and mattresses were blown out to sea along with parts of the caravans. At the height of _this storm two caravans rolling over collided with one other and all smashed beyond repair.

Hardly any property in the town escaped damage to some extent. Gardai and urban council workers and Mr Joe McGloin of the putting green did great work salvaging property from the broken caravans from being swept away and becoming a total loss. They were highly complimented by owners.”

Debbie moved on to cause severe gales over Scotland, while the remains of the storm could be traced as far east as Russia towards the end of the month.