More than two weeks after Storm Eowyn unleashed record-breaking winds across Ireland, around 1,500 premises remain without electricity. The storm, which caused the most extensive power outage in the country’s history, left nearly 770,000 homes, farms, schools, and businesses in the dark at its peak.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) has been working to restore essential services, including electricity, water, and telecommunications. Emergency response hubs have been set up to support affected residents, offering essential facilities such as phone charging, broadband access, and hot meals.
Electricity restoration continues as final repairs prove challenging
The electricity network was one of the hardest-hit infrastructures during Storm Eowyn. The storm caused the most widespread outage ever recorded in Ireland, with hundreds of thousands of properties losing power at the height of the crisis. Since then, the majority of affected homes and businesses have been reconnected, but around 1,500 premises remain without supply.
The NECG has emphasised that restoring electricity to the remaining customers is particularly challenging due to the extent of the damage in certain areas. Some of the affected locations require extensive repairs, including replacement of poles, transformers, and high-voltage lines. The emergency group continues to prioritise restoration efforts, with crews working around the clock to reconnect the final customers.
Authorities have also issued repeated warnings regarding safety concerns. The NECG has urged the public to avoid fallen power lines and report any damage to the electricity network immediately. “If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity networks, never, ever touch or approach these as they are live and extremely dangerous,” a spokesperson said.
Telecommunications and water services still impacted in some areas
Beyond the electricity crisis, telecommunications and water supplies have also been significantly affected. According to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), Storm Eowyn caused the largest telecommunications outage in recorded history. As of Saturday morning, 0.36% of fixed-line service users remained disconnected, while 0.13% of mobile users were still experiencing degraded service.
Water supply has also been a concern, though progress has been made in restoring services. Uisce Éireann, Ireland’s national water utility, confirmed that efforts are underway to reconnect the “final few” customers who are still without water.
In response to the ongoing disruption, emergency hubs have been set up across the country to assist affected residents. These centres provide hot meals, drinking water, phone charging, internet access, and shower facilities. Some hubs are also offering study spaces for students preparing for exams, ensuring that educational commitments are not severely impacted.
The NECG is scheduled to meet again on Monday to review progress and coordinate further restoration efforts. As Ireland continues to recover from the storm’s impact, authorities remain focused on fully restoring essential services and ensuring public safety.
This article has been republished from the following materials.
