Sisters Judy O’Leary and Paula Coleman with their niece Megan Twohig from Ballyphehane all wrapped from the rain today in the city centre. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

This weather is slaughtering our businesses.
That is the cry today from a wide range of businesses in Cork who have had to cut staff hours just to try and survive because of the appalling weather.
Vicki Williams, of Glanmire Ices, estimates her business to be down 50% this year, while Richard May, of Travara Lodge Guesthouse, in Courtmacsherry, reports business to be down by between 30% and 40%.
Vicki said: “We have 15 staff and we have had to cut their hours.”
Cork and Kerry were worst affected yet again by overnight downpours, in what is traditionally one of the busiest weeks of the year in tourism.
In Moorepark, near Fermoy, there was overnight rainfall of close to 19mm recorded.
At Cork Airport, rainfall was at 15mm, while Roches Point recorded 14mm of rain.
Gardaí reported that there was heavy surface water in some parts of north Cork this morning and also in the Clonakilty area.

In Killarney, a local road between the town and Coolcorcoran was closed after an overnight mudslide.
ISME chief executive Mark Fielding said today businesses in areas such as tourism, agribusiness and small convenience stores are all being affected by the lack of tourists.
He said: “The hotel, bed and breakfast, and catering sectors are more than concerned.”
He said ISME is lobbying the government not to raise VAT as this would cause further hardship to businesses already affected by the weather and the recession.