⚠️ Storm Éowyn - Fri 24.01.25 (**Please read Mod Instruction in OP.**)

I think a big problem is that the Govt/ESBN need to change the approach to ensuring the network doesn't collapse from trees falling on lines each time we have a storm. The population is more dependant than ever on electricity, a dependency which will increase even more in the years ahead as more if us switch to electric heating and transport.

The problem with ESBN crews is that they are working extremely hard after the horse has bolted. It's not good enough really to have so much electricity cable running adjacent and through trees which will inevitably collapse the network every time we have a storm. Surely its time for the crews to commence an all year around ongoing programme of removing trees from beside lines. A couple of days back I saw a crew driving around near me lopping off a couple of branches from trees near lines only for one of the bloody trees subsequently falling on the line. The tree was the problem not a couple of branches. If we are going to have overhead lines in rural areas, we need to remove trees from around these lines and maybe, just maybe vulnerable people wouldn't have to wait multiple days for power ro be restored after any significant storm hits

There is a fence and gate in there somewhere, will be fun sorting it out..

why would it be news?

I think we also need to look at our settlement patterns. If we are going to get more storms, we must build communities where people live closer together and support each other.

We do. And we already do.

Still doesn't stop the storms or storm damage though.

You may be surprised to know that there are many hundreds of thousands of us who do not desire to live like sardines and who live and work in rural industries which help to provide many of the comforts that city-dwellers enjoy....such as farms.

I would highly recommend visiting us here to see how it works. It may change your perspective on life. Winter storms have always been here. Rural communities have always supported each other. I have yet to meet anyone who actively searched out an opportunity to live in Dublin City, for example. Most people living in Dublin are forced to, due to work.

What we need are incentives to encourage city dwellers to move BACK to rural communities, not out of them.

There's also the geographical and meteorological fact of the West being more prone to storms, compared to the east coast.

Are you well?

Its called self reliance. I'm a farmer. Its the way of farmers. Unless you're a victim.

2 is 1 and 1 is none. Research it and live it.

The government are indeed useless. The services and infrastructure in this country for our supposed wealth are poor at best.

I would have a generator if I lived on the west coast. In fact I'd probably have a generator if I ever lost power for more than a day. Lucky to have never lost power once in the 10 years we've lived here.

Generator doesn't solve the water issue though which presumably means no central heating?

Good luck to anyone still suffering the fallout of the storm.

500k people without power should be a national emergency.

Thanks Oíche.

Theres a few clowns on this thread that could learn some sense and compassion from you.

This storm was incredibly destructive in Connacht. And not just on some remote connemara headlamd near Mace Head as some of the misinformed on here seem to think. Seriously couldn't believe Reading here yesterday that "it wasn't too bad" and Darwin and Ophelia were worse.

We're 10km from Athlone and estimated reconnection for ESB is 1st February.

The scale and magnitude of the destruction is totally unprecedented in living memory for this country. Would post soms shocking pictures but impossible without Internet.

The entire northwestern quarter of the island outside the big towns will Basically need to be re-wired. There are millions of trees down.

And then you eventually get to hear some national news broadcast and it's hardly mentioned.

Fairly sickening when you've no short term prospects of power, Internet, phones, heating, water and the only reason we have any roads open is because of voluntary work with chainsaws and tractors of local farmers. No state agencies bar ESB to be seen. Rant over, but in terms of wind damage, in Connacht at least, this was likely only surpassed by 1839.

it's possible to recognise that this storm has caused a lot of damage and misery for many while also acknowledging that there have been worse storms (in terms of recorded windspeeds at least) in living memory. See Sryan's table. Also, as per this thread, various models and ME's detailed forecasts for Eowyn showed some truly shocking windspeeds which didn't transpire. The point is, it could have been a lot worse with even more destruction, loss of life, storm surges etc.

In what way? What would you suggest they do to impove things when already at 100% ?

Bring a few generators and bottled water down to people in the west rather than posting aggravating nonsense on the Internet.

Just because we don't have enough weather stations to be representative, and some models overestimated gusts doesn't mean it wasn't the most destructive storm in 100 years.

"It could have been worse" you say?!

Good God!!

a bit late for the hundreds of thousands of one off houses dotted all around Ireland. That wont and can't change as these houses are lifetime investments for those families. They are there right now, dealing with this, most of them not even able to get connections to let people know of their predicaments. Thousands of farms too that will always be one off, in rural areas, trying to feed animals that will eventually feed us. So its a moot point right now.

ESB have already contacted French and UK counterparts for assistance .

When you live rurally you need to be prepared for the consequences of that. When storms are forecast we get stocked on gas or camp stoves, solid fuel, a generator if electricity is especially necessary etc, and water.

Power cuts are a reality of living rurally. If you don't get a few power cuts a year at least you are very very lucky!

Its no use blaming ESB or the network for these things - they are an unavoidable part of rural life. Nowhere in the world has underground cables serving all rural communities

I’m seeing some local faults with an estimated restoration time of a week from today.

With storm darragh, the snow earlier this month and this storm that’ll be 3 times people have been without electricity for a week or more. Also they really need to sort out the water treatment plants with back up generators. Whatever about the electricity it’s a joke people being without water for a week or more because there’s no power at the water treatment plants.

The French have an orange wind warning today, that won’t help with crews from France coming over to help.