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LAST UPDATE | 29 Jan
AS IRELAND RECOVERS from the devastating impact of Storm Éowyn, the public has been urged to “check in” with elderly and vulnerable people still affected by the continued power and water outages.
The severe weather caused widespread damage to infrastructure on Friday, leaving communities in several counties grappling with disruptions to essential services.
As of 11.30am, around 133,000 homes and businesses remain without power, while Uisce Éireann said that around 7,500 premises are still without water.
Electrical technicians from Austria, Finland and the UK are now on the ground in the worst impacted areas, with further support arriving from France in the afternoon.
Crews are also due to arrive from the Netherlands over the coming days.
And in areas where water has not yet returned, alternative water supplies are being provided and generators have been installed at almost all of the plants, pumping stations and reservoirs where it is feasible to do so.
ESB, Uisce Éireann and local authorities have urged those affected to take precautions while restoration efforts are underway.
ESB has also warned that there are still many faults on the electricity network that it has been made aware of “several instances of potentially very dangerous incidents where members of the public have unknowingly approached fallen electricity infrastructure”.
Gardaí have urged the public, where posible, to alert them of people still isolated by outages or blocked roads.
“If you are aware of family, friends or neighbours who you have not heard from or who may be isolated or continue to be in a vulnerable situation, please make contact with An Garda Síochána or another appropriate service. Do not assume that somebody else has,” a garda spokesperson said.
The Government has said 16 “emergency response hubs” are up and running across the country, but charity Friends of the Elderly has urged the public to “make the extra effort” and check with elderly residents themselves.
As Bernie Curran, General Manager of Friends of the Elderly told The Journal, “A 5 minute phone call can change an older person’s day”.
Storm Éowyn has affected people in varying ways, and some residents in more rural areas may be more vulnerable than others.
Friends of the Elderly have urged the public to check on your neighbours, especially those who may be elderly or living alone.
Curran said that even just offering emotional support can “make a big difference” during this stressful time.
“You’re breaking the monotony of the day for them, but you’re also ensuring that you can get them supplies, water or a hot meal if they need it,” Curran said.
“It’s really about making the most vulnerable people affected by the storm that they’re not isolated or unsafe, and making that connection with them.”
The charity said that if possible, people should reach out to those nearby, either in person or through a phone call or text.
Offer assistance in practical ways, such as helping with water, ensuring they have enough food, or providing warmth.
Curran also advised people to help elderly resident “preempt the further bad weather” by checking that they have the adequate resources to face any further extreme weather scenarios.
A number of people affected by outages have spoken out about their power and water outage struggles since Friday.
A Mayo resident told The Journal yesterday that she has had no electricity or water since around 2.20am on Friday after “the storm of the century”.
“This is absolutely terrible carry on, and the Dáil off for two weeks’ holidays. There would be all-out war if this was the carry on in Dublin,” the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said.
Aisling O’Malley is based about 10 minutes outside Athlone. She is among those currently without power or water. She has a long-term illness and is finding the cold weather very difficult.
“We don’t have a mains water supply and have to use a well. Unfortunately, without electricity we have no pump for the well so we are without water.
“I have been using bottled gas to try and stay warm. I have a long-term illness so I need extra heat and the heater is just not enough,” Aisling said.
Aisling said ESB teams “are doing a wonderful job and I do understand they are doing their best”, but she is really struggling without power.
Catherine, a 65-year-old resident living in Tuam, Co Galway told RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline yesterday that her power had been gone since Thursday night.
“We’re so cold, we’re hungry, we’re exhausted. We haven’t had a hot meal since last Wednesday just before the storm,” Catherine said.
And the government aren’t doing anything for us. We’ve no internet, we’re lost and we don’t know what is happening.”
Sometimes an interview stays with you long after recording for news. John McDonagh from An Cheathrú Rua is 82 and is unwell and freezing cold since the storm knocked out his electricity in Conemara 5 days ago #storm #Conemara #gaeltacht pic.twitter.com/XneZaSjw2r
— Teresa Mannion (@TeresaMannion) January 29, 2025
John McDonagh, a Connamara native who has been without power and water for six days, told RTÉ News that “the night time is the worst”.
“I have a local nursing home that I can call to during the day, but when I go back home at night, the house was frozen to death, and there’s no gas, heater, nothing,” McDonagh said.
“I go to bed with a hot water bottle, and I wake up cold and struggling to breathe”.
The ESB has said that 3,000 electricity poles across the country must be replaced, and 900km of new cable must be laid.
768,000 customers were left without electricity in the immediate aftermath of the storm, with around 635,000 of those affected reconnected as of this morning.
While the ESB and Uisce Éireann continue work on repairs, the European Union is sending 17 power generators to Ireland to help with the power outages.
Thirteen of the generators will come from the EU’s strategic reserve based in Poland, and Denmark has mobilised an extra four via the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, according to the European Commission.
The Government has said a number of emergency response hubs are up and running in Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick city and county, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
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Must be great encouraging to go all electric, and trying to demonise people for using a log/coal stove or fireplace, when an electrical outage happens leaving you cold…
Dara Calleary in his social protection ministry should be spending his well earned 2 weeks off doing house calls.
Well able to do it canvassing for votes.
@Padraic O’ Sullivan: This is the same fellow who sat at cabinet when legislation was brought in that restricted people’s right to freedom of movement and freedom of assembly. At the same time he was swanning around the county, attending golf matches and all night knees up with scores of attendees all crowded together indoors. Now, my question is this. Did Dara just not believe that this virus was as serious as the government (of which he was a member) made out? Or did he just not care about the vulnerable in his community? My guess is both the above
@Darth O’Leary: I agree with you.
He was on local radio yesterday blathering out the same old excuses.
Clepto parasite.
Saw a farmer in Longford clearing a road to an eldery neighbour to check on them. Had to chainsaw his way up to them. Farmer Phil on YT. Unreal damage as well to his property.
@Jamie Hinch: It’s a common theme, we were saved by a local farmer to, cut up the fallen trees that blocked our local road.
@Sea Spirit: that’s decent, good people out there.
@Jamie Hinch: Nice channel, very clean looking farmer! ;)
How much profit did ESB make last year?
@Luke Littler: Sunday Business Post: ESB said its operating profits were €446 million for the first six months to June 2024, a reduction of €230 million compared to the same period last year. It also reported profits after tax and exceptional items of €171m, down 65 per cent from €492 million for the first six months of 2023.
@Sal Paradise: cheers Sal…be interesting to see their total work force, excluding administrative workers, compared to 10 years ago say.
@Dere: You can bet they are running at a bare minimum, so they can show a great profit. Higher salaries for those at the top. Public service companies being run like private corporations.
Only in Ireland ,we have no water and no power ,six days now and after three days the “Authorities ” bring tanks of water to our villages with a big sign saying “Boil before use” As that lady on YouTube would say ” one 13yr old boy ,just one ” …
@Gerry Campbell:
Ah sweet Jaysus, you couldn’t make that up…
Hopefully someone can enlighten me……. Were the Army called in at any stage to provide assistance to the ESB or other bodies to assist in restoration of services or to try and make contact with isolated people??
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Yes. Members of the Defence Forces & Civil Defence volunteers have been helping, with the Air Corps also set to join the effort. They will assist with Ariel surveys for the ESB. They also provided beds to Hospitals e.g. St Luke’s, KK). On the 24th Jan, the Defence Minister told how soldiers were playing a central role in the clean-up op.
@I’m a robot Robot: I don’t speak Bigot, sorry.
I am more concerned about the amount of men and women who are vaping, it absolutely breaks my heart to see them destroying their health and the health of those around them. It is imperative that vapes are banned, a full and comprehensive ban is the only option.
@Paul Soup: a bit of a downgrade from luke littler isn’t it Mr soup
@Luke Littler: oh go on get Mary on next
@Paul Soup: agreed, I knew it would get out of control, why take up smoking when you can vape indoors, I believe it’s going to get a lot worse, as it’s the in thing to do.
@Shane O Mac: I don’t care if pubs and nightclubs are struggling, a full blanket ban on vaping is required and absolutely necessary.
@Paul Soup: Clueless.
I think that only if you experience it you can truly understand it .. no electrics, no water, no phone signals, limited road access.
FYI I have just brought back my generator to The Hire Shop Dunboyne. A few 3.5Kw ones available there.
Did you here them saying this weather event is one in a generation event clown’s climate change is happening this storm is only the start just the start of more weather events
There are many soldiers sitting in barracks throughout the country, which I find mind-boggling.
@SirMr: Members of the Defence Forces Civil Defence volunteers have been helping, with the Air Corps also set to join the effort. They will assist with Ariel surveys for the ESB. They also provided beds to Hospitals e.g. St Luke’s, KK). On the 24th Jan, the Defence Minister told how soldiers were playing a central role in the clean-up op.
Vapes didn’t cause the storm that resulted in power outages.
I’m less unhealthy now than I was ten years ago as I was having breathing difficulties from smoking. I’d probably be dead from smoking tobacco by now if I didn’t switch to vapes
It’s crazy to think the amount of Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil stooges who attacked me two days ago for criticising the response to this storm. They’re not so loud now as we see just how incompetent this government has been. 160,000 people are still without power and we are now told that at least 100,000 of them will be without it for another week. The fact that in this day and age people have to wait two weeks to get the power back in their home is disgraceful. ESB is a failed monopoly and it’s time that we privatised it and allowed actual free competition to speed up the energy distribution system in Ireland. The government also doesn’t want to face up to the fact that their environmental policies have caused this by clamping down on stoves, turf cutting and shutting down coal and oil plants.
How are the FFG sun holidays going well done FFG voters
Wheres the FFFG cheerleaders.in comments
Quick at other times,must be on leave like this joke government
can someone bill or fine the assh0les that did not maintain their trees and cause havoc on the roads ?!
Heartbreaking to see grown men and women vaping. Imperative that vapes are banned.
@Paul Soup: Your ma must have been smoking crack when she had you.
@Paul Soup: Troll.
This is where good neighbours are a blessing. Rural Communities especially where homes are scattered. Neighbours know where the vulnerable people are. The able bodied can do so much to help , the GAA have been fantastic opening their premises , farmers too do great work . There are many unsung heroes who just provide practical help. Many Thanks to all of them.
Where is our highly trained army we here about, that are ready for events
Why hasn’t the army been called in, there must be work they could undertake?
Herroo
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