Residents of Ballyconnell, Cavan, face a two-week-long power outage following Storm Éowyn, leading to anger and frustration. Households struggle with daily life, relying on makeshift arrangements and criticizing the ESB and the government for inadequate response and lack of preparedness.
Furious residents in Ballyconnell , a small town in Cavan, Ireland, are enduring a power outage that has stretched for two weeks since Storm Éowyn ravaged the country. Over 2,000 homeowners are grappling with the effects of the prolonged blackout, relying on makeshift arrangements for their daily needs. Chris Heaton, a resident of Killashandra, has experienced the frustration firsthand.
Despite receiving multiple messages from the ESB stating his fault has been restored, his house remains plunged in darkness, with no flicker of light since January 24. He describes his situation as a constant struggle, living out of his car, charging his phone in different locations, and resorting to eating food that cannot be stored in his refrigerator due to the lack of power. He's been given 17 different restoration dates or times over 13 days, only to be disappointed repeatedly. The situation has sparked outrage among residents who feel abandoned by the government and the ESB. On Tuesday, ESB chief Paddy Hayes stated that the storm's impact on their network would cost tens of millions, a cost ultimately borne by customers through price increases next year. This announcement was met with fury at a volunteer emergency hub in Ballyconnell, where residents on day 13 without power expressed their anger. Mr. Heaton believes Mr. Hayes should be removed from his position for this statement, calling out the politicians for a lack of empathy and responsiveness. He suggests a temporary house swap with politicians like Michael Martin and Simon Harris to see how they would cope.Lorraine O’Loughran, another resident, expresses her willingness to march at the Dáil if the power outage persists. She has set up an emergency hub in the local parish hall, providing a vital resource for hundreds of residents over the past two weeks. However, she criticizes the government for relying on volunteers for such a crucial service. She believes the country should not be operating in a third-world manner and points to the government's focus on other matters, suggesting they are more concerned with global events than the plight of their citizens. Isabel Duggan Rofé, a volunteer driving over 600km to help those most vulnerable, describes the initial days as heartbreaking, with older people struggling in the cold, without food or phone access. She highlights the importance of communication during emergencies and the challenges of identifying those in urgent need when phone lines are down.Residents of Ballyconnell feel forgotten and question the government's lack of preparedness after Storm Darragh in December, which caused a six-day power outage in Killashandra, including Mr. Heaton's house. He lost his Christmas food and two fish during that outage, emphasizing the recurring nature of the problem and the need for investment in a more reliable power grid.
Power Outage Storm Éowyn Ballyconnell ESB Irish Government Community Response Emergency Services
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