East Donegal Council Staff Praised for Exceptional Work During Storm Éowyn

Council staff in the east of the county have been praised for their response during last week’s severe weather event, Storm Éowyn.

Praise for Road Maintenance Teams

Cllr Martin Scanlon acknowledged the “great work” performed by Donegal County Council’s Area Roads Engineer, Claire McKeever, and her team.

“That was great work by you and your team to keep roads open over the weekend,” he stated.

Call for Vegetation Management Review

However, Cllr Scanlon emphasized the need for a review of vegetation clearance procedures, particularly under bridges. “Arch bridges were blocked after the storm, highlighting the importance of maintaining clearances,” he said.

Further Praise from Councillors

Cllr Martin Harley echoed Cllr Scanlon’s sentiments, praising the roads staff for their dedication during a particularly challenging time.

Cllr Gary Doherty also joined in the commendation, extending the accolades to ESB, Uisce Éireann, telecommunications teams, and all other workers who kept services operational.

Acknowledging the Challenges

In response to the praise, Ms McKeever affirmed that council staff faced “very difficult conditions – unprecedented” during Storm Éowyn.

She pointed out that communication challenges further complicated the response, as both phone and internet services were compromised.

“Some of the communications issues have still not been resolved,” Ms McKeever highlighted.

Continued Efforts Post-Storm

Despite the challenges, McKeever recognized their performance.

“We did a reasonably good job under the circumstances. Staff were out on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” she said.

The cleanup process continues, with significant damage from uprooted trees affecting roads, footpaths, and private properties.

The Road Ahead

As East Donegal recovers from Storm Éowyn, the commendations serve as a reminder of the resilience and hard work of local council staff.

Through ongoing maintenance and a comprehensive review of vegetation management, the community looks forward to maintaining road safety and service reliability in the future.

East Donegal council staff praised for ‘great work’ during Storm Éowyn

was last modified: January 31st, 2025 by Staff Writer

Tags: Storm Éowyn, East Donegal, council staff, Claire McKeever, ESB, Uisce Éireann, telecommunications, road maintenance, emergency response