Ireland Struggles as Storm Éowyn and Herminia Cause Widespread Disruption

Some 100,000 people are facing an extended power outage lasting until February, a consequence of the severe damage inflicted by Storm Éowyn. Dubbed the worst storm to hit Ireland in decades, Éowyn has left a trail of destruction across the country.

Impact of Storm Éowyn

More than 300,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity on Sunday afternoon. Additionally, 109,000 customers were still waiting for water restoration.

New Challenges Emerge with Storm Herminia

Met Éireann has issued new weather warnings as the cleanup operation continues. Storm Herminia is affecting various parts of Ireland with several status yellow warnings in effect. Counties Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim face a snow and ice warning until 9 a.m. on Sunday, while Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, and Wicklow are under a rain warning until 5 p.m.

Met Éireann warns of heavy downpours that may cause flooding in some areas. Further damage to already weakened buildings and trees, and hazardous travel conditions are forecasted in counties Galway, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin, under another yellow wind warning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All of Munster is under a yellow wind warning until midday, potentially causing more damage to weakened structures. For Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Meath, and Louth, a yellow wind warning applies between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., while Kerry, Cork, and Waterford receive an additional wind warning from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Monday.

Government and Emergency Services Respond

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) will convene again on Sunday to address the cleanup operation. Local authorities continue to clear roads of debris and fallen trees. ESB Networks reported that close to 438,000 businesses and homes have had electricity restored, leaving 330,000 customers still without power. ESB expects to restore power to most properties by January 31st, with the remaining 100,000 customers seeing their supply progressively restored over the following week.

Transport services have largely returned to normal. However, Iarnród Éireann warns that the Mayo to Dublin train may not operate on Sunday due to a significant power outage affecting automatic level crossings and fallen trees on the line.

Water and Communication Services Impacted

Uisce Éireann, the water authority, reports that around 140 of its treatment plants had no power on Saturday. Margaret Attridge, head of water operations, stated that the authority uses generators to restore supply. Teams were out on Sunday, working with ESB to prioritize sites and ensure alternative water supplies and tankers are available to communities.

Almost 109,000 people were without water on Sunday afternoon, while about 112,000 were supplied by generators. ComReg, the communications sector watchdog, reported that almost 300,000 fixed-line customers were impacted over the weekend. Another 1.8 million mobile customers were affected, bringing the total number of telecom customers with access difficulties to over 2 million.

Sport and Community Disruptions

The impacts of the storm extended to sporting events. The Allianz Football League Division 1 clash between Kerry and Donegal on Sunday was postponed due to travel difficulties faced by the Donegal team.

[ 
Kerry v Donegal Postponed as Storm Éowyn Hits Weekend Sporting FixturesOpens in new window
 ]

Government Support and Recovery Efforts

Tánaiste Simon Harris stated on X that the Defence Forces are assisting ESB Networks, with helicopters available to aid in power restoration. The Civil Defence is also on standby across the country.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin assured the public that the government would conduct a comprehensive assessment of storm impacts to determine the necessary supports for communities and businesses. While every effort is being made to restore power and water services, the unprecedented destruction caused by record-breaking winds underscores the enormity of the task ahead.

[ 
Storm Insurance: How Long to Settle My Claim? And Will My Premiums Go Up?Opens in new window
 ]

Your Voice Matters

As Ireland continues to recover from Storm Éowyn and faces the challenges brought by Storm Herminia, your thoughts and experiences are valuable. Please share how you are coping with these disruptions in the comments below. We are here to support and connect you with the community.

For updates, sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about the latest recovery efforts and support services available.

Don’t forget to share this article on social media to keep your friends and family informed about the ongoing situation in Ireland.