Several pupils at a school for children with special needs were unable to leave at their usual time yesterday when flooding made some roads impassable in east Cork.
Scoil Bernadette deputy principal Colman Motherway was hailed a hero by mother Caroline Newell after he decided to take three students home himself in the school minibus.
Her 16-year-old son Harry was among them.
Ms Newell worried about how her son was going to return to the family home in Youghal when the school bus was cancelled.
"We sent him off in the morning as usual, but we had no idea what was ahead," said Mrs Newell, who is a full-time carer.
"The rain got heavier, the floods started ... and there was no way parents could make it to the school to collect the children as so many roads were impassable."
Harry finally made it home around 8pm last night, 14 hours after leaving for school, thanks to Mr Motherway's "heroic" efforts, Ms Newell said.
Read more:
Clean-up operation in Cork, Waterford after flooding 'carnage'
Storm Babet: Homes, businesses count costs
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said: "Between the jigs and the reels and Colman driving down back roads and discovering that he couldn't get down them, and backing up and trying various different routes, Harry eventually got home to us.
"He was in pretty good spirits, thankfully he doesn't suffer terribly from anxiety, so he wasn't very distressed. But some of the other pupils were a bit more stressed."
She added: "It can be quite challenging with children who have additional needs.
"Harry was pretty hungry, pretty ragged, pretty tired, but safe and sound.
"The one I felt most sorry for was our dedicated deputy principal.
"Colman then had to turn around and take the bus back up to Cork where he lives.
"He really did go above and beyond for those children."
Mrs Newell said she hoped a better flood warning system could be put in place in the future.
"I would be inclined now to keep Harry home for an Orange warning if it was issued, rather than just waiting for a Red warning.
"It was just a big surprise that things got that bad that fast."
