The Daily Star Ireland
Restoration Efforts Continue; Over 100,000 Households Remain Without Power after Storm Éowyn
ESB Networks Managing Director Nicholas Tarrant said it is proving challenging to restore power to more than 100,000 customers seven days into the power outage caused by Storm Éowyn. He said while the dates are still difficult to provide, he can confirm that reconnecting almost 108,000 premises will stretch into next week.
ESB Networks says 660,000 customers have now been reconnected since the height of the crisis when 768,000 homes and businesses lost electricity. Large parts of the country remain significantly damaged, but particularly in the northwest, including Tuam, County Galway, one of the worst-hit areas.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Tarrant outlined the extensive impact of the storm he described as a “very, very significant” weather event and said that though major progress had been made in restoring electricity, for those people this is little comfort.
In view of these, he further reiterated the call for continued investment in the ESB network. He emphasized that long-term improvements will be essential to strengthen infrastructure to ensure that such disruptions do not recur in the future.
Gardaí have warned that fraudulent tradespeople are taking advantage of areas affected by the storm as the road to recovery continues. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as communities work towards rebuilding and restoring essential services.
Emergency Hubs in Kerry Scaling Down Operations
The majority of the emergency response centres which had been put in place in Kerry to support those affected by the storm have now been stood down. The decision was taken by Kerry County Council in consultation with Kerry GAA based on the reducing numbers of homes without power.
Despite this, the support is still extended in certain ways. The hubs in Cordal and Asdee will also remain open for at least another day to further support residents who remain without power.
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Breandán MaGearailt said, “I would like to thank all the individuals and organisations that have assisted in establishing and operating the hubs. These centres have been a lifeline for many, providing an opportunity for people to charge their phones, shower, get a warm drink, and meet with volunteers.
Call for Older People to Seek Help
Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said that older people affected by power outages and extreme weather should make contact for support. He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that communities should also look out for their elderly neighbours to make sure they are safe and have what they need.
He underlined that while ALONE is actively contacting those it supports on a regular basis, there might be many older people who they do not necessarily support every day but are now in need with the storm’s impacts.
Moynihan underscored the need to break any hesitation in seeking help, urging older people to stay in contact and seek support, no matter how resilient they usually are. If ALONE cannot directly assist, he assured that they will find another organization that can address the specific needs of those affected.
With power restoration well underway and the emergency response winding down, authorities and supporting organizations are working to make sure all residents, but especially the most vulnerable, get the help that they need in the wake of Storm Éowyn.
