Dublin: The ESB has announced that restoring power grids disrupted by Storm Darragh will take several days. Areas in Counties Wicklow, Donegal, Mayo, and Clare are expected to have power restored only by Monday. Efforts are ongoing, with support from the Defence Forces, to address the extensive damage caused by the storm, which officials say had a greater impact than Hurricane Ophelia.
Impact on Power and Water Services
Storm Darragh left 400,000 customers without electricity at its peak. While power has been restored to 220,000 customers, 175,000 homes, businesses, and farms remain without supply. The ESB has confirmed that clearing fallen trees and repairing damaged power lines will take time.
In Northern Ireland, 50,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages, with significant damage reported at the Ballylumford power station in Antrim. Efforts are underway to restore operations.
The Irish Water utility reported major damage to 40 water treatment plants, disrupting supply to 153,000 customers across counties Kerry, East Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, Donegal, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, and Galway. While operations at most plants have resumed, 20 facilities remain offline.
Transportation Disruptions
Storm Darragh wreaked havoc on Ireland’s transportation network:
- Flights: Multiple flights at Dublin and Cork airports were cancelled.
- Ferries: Irish Ferries cancelled services from Dublin to Holyhead, Holyhead to Dublin, and Dublin to Cherbourg due to strong winds.
- Trains: Irish Rail services faced delays, with disruptions on routes such as Connolly to Belfast and Dart overhead lines in Raheny, Dublin.
- Buses: An airport transfer bus was forced off the road in Ballyclare, County Antrim, though no injuries were reported.
Damage to Roads and Infrastructure
The storm caused extensive damage to roads and infrastructure.
- Fallen Trees: In Galway alone, eight large trees were uprooted. Significant obstructions were reported on the N59 in Sligo, as well as in Kerry, Mayo, and Munster.
- Blocked Roads: Local councils are working to clear debris and restore traffic flow, though some roads remain impassable.
Communications Outages
Mobile and broadband services also suffered significant disruptions, particularly in Donegal and Mayo. Provider Eir reported 35,000 broadband outages, 20,000 other issues, and outages at 15% of its mobile network sites.
Warnings and Safety Measures
The National Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) and Met Éireann have repeatedly urged caution as clean-up efforts continue. While the storm has passed, debris and damage still pose risks.
- Travel Warnings: The Road Safety Authority and PSNI have advised motorists to slow down, allow extra travel time, and avoid debris-strewn areas.
- Alerts: Amber wind warnings and yellow alerts remained in effect until early this morning.
Response and Recovery
The Defence Forces, local councils, and utility providers are coordinating efforts to restore essential services and clear debris. The Department of Social Protection has activated the Humanitarian Assistance Programme to support families affected by the storm.
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