Hundreds remain without power as Mayo communities still reeling from Storm Éowyn

Hundreds of homes and businesses are still without power in Mayo following Storm Éowyn. 

Last Friday’s storm wreaked unprecedented havoc on the country, putting 715,000 homes and businesses into darkness, and Mayo felt the full force of the winds.

READ MORE: How to dispose of your food waste in Mayo after Storm Éowyn

Much work has been done to restore services to the region. However, one week on many homes in various parts of Mayo are still left with the lights out.

In some instances, there is yet to be an estimated date at which power is set to be fully restored.  Nationwide, 130,000 customers are still without electricity.

Many within towns and communities have been left aggrieved by the length of time that has elapsed since power first went out until now.

Mayo Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh said today (Thursday): “People are really starting to feel pain and distress waiting so long without mains electricity

“It’s great that we’ve 660,000 people restored, but that’s cold comfort to the people waiting at home.”

While the situation on the ground around the county is far from ideal, the recently-elected TD has moved to reassure constituents that the government is moving to help those on the ground.

“I’m talking to constituents morning until night and trying to work hard on their behalf.

“In Mayo, at the moment  we have 36 hubs now up and running.”

Deputy Keogh called for a battery pack to be made available to vulnerable people in communities during a similar emergency in future

“Going forward, can we look at mapping vulnerable people we have in our community, so that we have a plan to get to them quickly with battery packs, or we know who we have to visit to bring communication when Wi-fi goes down,” she said on Midwest Radio. 

“I understand the ESB have a plan, but we have to have a backup plan.”

Speaking on Morning Ireland, ESB Managing Director Nicholas Tarrant moved to reassure customers that all resources are being deployed to aid those affected.  At present, support crews from Austria, Finland, Netherlands and France have been drafted in to assist with recovery efforts.

“We have approximately 2,800 people working on the storm restoration directly. But we are going to keep customers informed over the coming days as to how that restoration effort is going and as the numbers are coming down.”

ESB Networks has published estimated restore times for most of its faults on www.PowerCheck.ie.  At present, this is the most accurate indicator for customers of when they can expect to have power returning to their properties.  However, at present, there are areas within the county which do not have an estimated restore time.

 Ballina Municipal District

READ MORE: Mayo astronaut to lead Ballina St Patrick’s Day parade

• Failte Room, Tithe Cois Tra, Lacken Housing Association, Carrowmore, Lacken - Charge phones, water, hot drinks - 9:30am-5pm
• Ballina Swimming Pool - Showers available - 2pm-4pm & 6pm-9pm
• Maloney's SuprValu, Ballina - Hot water for flasks/baby bottles, charging devices, microwave
• Jackie Clarke Collection - Water & Charging (no wifi) - Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-5pm
• Knockmore Rathduff Recreation and Resource Centre - Internet, charging points, tea/coffee, water - Contact 094 9258016 or 094 9067023
• Crossmolina Community Centre - Charging points, WiFi, remote working, refreshments

Castlebar Municipal District

READ MORE: Mayo County Council give go-ahead for new music festival in Castlebar

• Leisure Complex at Lough Lannagh - Showers available - Until 10pm until Friday January 31st
• Balla Community Centre - Charging points and kettle for hot water
• Tourmakeady Sports Hall - Showers & Charging points - Contact Tuar Mhic Eadaigh CLG committee members
• Ballyglass Community Centre - Charging points and internet access - 10am-8pm daily
• Turlough Community Centre - Charging points, showers

Claremorris - Swinford Municipal District

READ MORE: Joe Brolly joins Mayo GAA club for new season

• Ballyhaunis Community Centre - Providing heat, charging points, water and toilets
• Claremorris Tennis Club - Showers and area to charge phones - 9:30am-1pm
• Lakeside Sports & Fittness Ballinrobe - Showers and Charging Points - 6:30am 9:30pm
• Swinford Amenity Park - Charging facilities available in dressing rooms, kettle upstairs for making hot drink (please bring your own cup) - Entrance via Park Road
• Gateway Hotel Swinford - Shower facilities (call to reception), charging devices,  works space
• St. Johns Rest & Care - Open for refreshments, hot soup and sandwiches, phone charging - 10am-6pm (daily). In addition Mayo Civil Defence will provide mobile charging unit.
• Knock House Hotel - Showers and area to change - 8am to 8pm (enquire at hotel regarding availability)
• Kilkelly Trimogue Community Centre - WiFi, charging points, microwave to heat food, tea/coffee - Open until 5pm daily
• Claremorris FRC - Internet and phone charging - Contact 094 9377838 for more details
• Cúram Claremorris - Phone charging, tea/coffee - Contact office@curamclaremorris.ie
• Lakeside Sports & Fitness, Ballinrobe - Showers and charging - 6:30am-9:30pm
• JJ Burke's, Ballinrobe - Tea/Coffee, hot water for flasks, WiFi & charging points - 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday & 9am to 3pm Saturday
• FACT Social Club, Foxford - Electricity and water - Call 094 9256662
• Kilkelly Trimogue Community Centre - WiFi, Charging points, tea/coffee, microwave to heat food - Open until 5pm daily
• Shrule Glencorrib GAA - Water and electricity facilities available in both Shrule and Glencorrib clubhouses

Westport - Belmullet Municipal District

READ MORE: Popular Newport butcher win major awards

• Achill GAA Clubhouse - Cooking and showering available - 10am-8pm daily
• Achill Tourism - Internet access - 10am-4pm from February 28th - Call 098 20400 before visiting
• Kiltane GAA Clubhouse - Open to all needing to charge their phones, tablets, laptops, avail of the free community read and return books and have a cuppa with their friends and family - Contact bangorerriswbg@gmail.com
• Belmullet GAA Clubhouse - Able to provide people with tea, showers and places to charge equipment - 10am-1pm
• Irish Coast Guard have 4 X 4s available, first aid and visiting vulnerable people from Killary to Louisburgh/Westport - Contact Noel 087 7763222
• The Westport Hotel Group - Charging points, internet - 10am-7pm
• Castlecourt Hotel - Free workspaces for remote workers, tea/coffee - Available from 8am
• Westport United Clubhouse - Showers/kitchen facilities, charging, water - 10am-4pm daily
• Westport Leisure Centre - Shower facilities - 6:30am-9am, 1pm-3pm and 7pm-8:30pm
• Fahy Community Centre - Wifi, kitchen facilities, charging and water
• Coláiste UISCE, Belmullet - Hot water, showers, teas/coffees, charging points - Call to office to check with member of management team 10am to 5pm until Friday January 31st
• Lecanvey Community Centre, Westport - Internet, kitchen facilities, charging points, tea/coffee, remote working space - Contact 087 1149158
• Cill Chomain GAA - Showers, charging points, washing/drying facilities, tea/coffee and water - 9am-9pm daily - Contact secretary.cillchomain.mayo@gaa.ie