Mayo residents still without phone lines over 100 days after Storm Éowyn

“It’s almost comical at times”, says Jim Faulkner, as he crouches under one of the many telephone lines cutting across his garden. A telephone poll was blown into his garden by Storm Éowyn back in January and nearly a dozen telephone lines now dissect it.

Weaving between the phonelines wouldn’t feel out of place in the new Mission:Impossible film franchise. 

For these frustrated Westport residents, their mission impossible has been trying to get Eir to clear the fallen mast and telephone lines that cut across their gardens, more than 100 days after Storm Éowyn. 

The fallen telephone poll at the back of Jim Faulkner's Garden

READ MORE: Out of service, out of patience – Mayo TD calls out failures from Eir

Despite placing many calls into Eir’s 'Dangerous Plant' number and several call-outs, residents have been left without landline and in some cases broadband connections.

Neighbours have been 'extremely distressed' by the long delay in the problems being addressed. This is especially acute as some of those affected are in their eighties and rely on panic alarms. 

Michael Kelly has not had broadband or a landline since the storm. Three separate Eir teams have called out to his house. The most recent was about six weeks ago and had told him they would 'requisition a new pole'. Michael, like his neighbours in this close-knit neighbourhood, are still waiting. 

Well-known retired doctor, Finola Cummins, uses a mobility scooter, or as she calls it, her 'bat mobile', to get around. A fallen wire cuts across her garden and she is understandably concerned about tripping over it. 

“When I walk in, if I'm not careful or if I'm a bit distracted, I’m going to fall. If I'm not thinking I could easily trip over it.” The fallen wire is in 'the business end of the garden'. 

The tripping hazard in Finola Cummins's garden

The Mayo News has reached out to Eir for comment on the matter.