Storm Éowyn Report: Mayo communities face ongoing vulnerability

A comprehensive government review into Storm Éowyn has revealed the unprecedented scale of disruption experienced across Mayo, with critical emergency services compromised and thousands left without power, water and communications for extended periods.

The 102-page report, compiled by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, examines Ireland's response to what it describes as "one of the most dangerous and destructive storms in living memory" when Storm Éowyn made landfall on Friday, 24 January 2025.

For Mayo, the findings paint a picture of a county severely impacted by infrastructure failures, particularly along the western seaboard, where the storm's fury was most intense.

As reported back in May, a report on the response to Storm Éowyn from Mayo County Council found that the state’s water and electricity utility providers ‘failed’ in their response to the storm because of ‘a lack of resilience’.

Coast Guard Operations Severely Disrupted

The Irish Coast Guard's remote VHF radio sites on the west coast experienced interruptions during the storm, with distress radio coverage disrupted along the Mayo coastline, as well as neighbouring Galway, Sligo and Donegal coasts.

The report reveals that TETRA communications systems used by emergency services also experienced partial loss of service, affecting all three Coast Guard control rooms.

While the service to mariners remained largely operational, basic services were only restored after a considerable time period.

Last month in Westport, a new Mission Critical Communications system was unveiled at a conference, attended by Minister Jack Chambers and Minister Dara Calleary, alongside representatives from European Public Protection and Disaster Relief agencies, technology leaders, and the European Commission.

The new system, built by Vodafone Ireland in partnership with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), utilises cutting-edge technology to create a resilient "system of last resort" for emergency communications.

This ensures that Gardaí, fire services, ambulance teams, and civil defence can maintain communication and coordination even when traditional power systems fail.

Before the conference, members of the Fire Services, Civil Defence, Ambulance, Coast Guard, Customs, Gardaí and HSE joined together to trial the cutting-edge technology at the Quay in Westport.

It was also announced that a 'game changer' satellite communications system is going to be installed on Inishturk before Christmas.

Danny O'Toole, Head of Broadband and Digital Development with Mayo County Council, explains that this cutting-edge technology will mean that “no matter where you are, with or without coverage, with or without power, you're going to be able to get emergency call-outs from rural communities.”

The system will be the first of its kind in Ireland, and the plan is to roll it out to other island communities off the Irish coast, primarily in health centres.

Extended Power outages

At the peak of Storm Éowyn's impact, approximately 768,000 customers across Ireland lost electricity supply – roughly 30% of all customers.

While the report confirms that almost 70% of customers had power restored within 72 hours, complete restoration took 18 days, with many Mayo households among the last to be reconnected.

The prolonged outages had cascading effects on essential services. At the storm's peak, over 130,000 customers across 51,000 premises were without water, with a further 750,000 customers at risk of supply disruption.

In Mayo, this meant many rural communities were left without basic amenities for extended periods.

Back in April, Westport TD Keira Keogh expressed deep frustration and exasperation at the then ongoing lack of Eir landline and broadband services in parts of Mayo, with some constituents still without connectivity for a staggering 69 days since Storm Éowyn.

The report reveals that approximately 2,052,100 users of mobile network services experienced degraded or interrupted connectivity during the storm's peak – the largest telecommunications disruption in ComReg's recorded history.

For Mayo residents, this meant prolonged isolation, with many unable to contact emergency services or loved ones. Mobile networks were heavily impacted by power loss, with service deteriorating after the first 24 hours as backup battery systems were depleted.

Peak outage levels occurred over the weekend following the storm.

Fixed line services were also severely affected, with pole-based infrastructure proving particularly vulnerable.

The report notes that over 6,000 poles were damaged across the country, along with more than 1,500km of fibre and copper cable.

Mayo County Council

The report recognises local authorities as playing a crucial role in responding to severe weather events. As the lead agencies for managing these incidents, local authorities should consider establishing a local critical entities group, the report states.

Mayo was one of the first to get the humanitarian response and community support provisions up and running.

At the national peak, over 380 such hubs were operating, with Mayo accounting for a significant proportion.

Back in May, Mayo County Council’s Director of Services, John Condon expressed a hope that the humanitarian support structures created would become a permanent structure in the event of a future weather event.

The report acknowledges that many of these hubs were operated by local voluntary groups in community and sporting facilities, with Civil Defence and local volunteers playing an invaluable role.

However, it also highlights that the activation of these hubs was reactive rather than planned, exposing gaps in preparedness.

Critical Recommendations for Mayo

The review makes several recommendations that directly impact Mayo:

• Local Critical Entities Groups: Mayo County Council is advised to establish a local critical entities group, chaired by the emergency planning officer, to foster relationships with operators of essential services, including Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland and telecommunications companies ahead of future severe weather events.
• Backup Power Generation: The report emphasises that major subsystems within critical services must be designed to endure long periods without mains electrical power. Uisce Éireann is installing approximately 30 new permanent standby generators and procuring around 80 mobile generators – an increase from the previously reported 60.
• Community Support Centres: A new guide to Community Support Centres has been developed and circulated to all local authorities, including Mayo County Council, to ensure a rapid response to future emergencies. The guide will be refined based on the winter 2025/26 experience.
• Tall Trees: New legislative measures are being progressed to provide enhanced vegetation management powers to protect electricity and telecommunications networks, including the establishment of forestry corridors and height limitations for roadside vegetation.

Vulnerable Populations

The report acknowledges significant challenges in reaching vulnerable persons during the crisis. In Mayo's rural communities, where many elderly residents live alone, the loss of telecommunications made contact extremely difficult.

An Post staff delivering post provided a crucial link to vulnerable persons in remote locations, and the report recommends that An Post's role in future emergencies be formalised, including participation in local coordination groups and checking on vulnerable customers during delivery routes.

The Department of Social Protection's Humanitarian Assistance Scheme was activated on 23 January 2025, with over 80,000 claims registered nationally by 9 April 2025.

Almost 34,000 claims were awarded, totalling nearly €8.2 million in payments. While county-specific figures weren't provided, Mayo households represented a significant portion of claims, given the prolonged power outages in the county.

Record-Breaking Storm

The report confirms that Storm Éowyn was meteorologically record-breaking, with Mace Head in neighbouring Galway recording gusts of 184.3 km/h – the highest wind speed ever recorded in Ireland.

It was the first time the entire island of Ireland had red-level wind warnings for all counties.

Met Éireann issued clear warnings from Monday, 20 January, five days before the storm hit, giving communities time to prepare.

The report commends the public response, noting that people across all communities heeded safety messages and sheltered in place, with reports of minimal traffic on road networks during the red warning period.

Looking Ahead

The report makes clear that while the coordinated response worked well in the initial stages, the prolonged restoration period led to "very difficult conditions for communities and responders in many parts of the country" – with Mayo's western seaboard among the worst affected areas.

A series of preparatory meetings have been held in advance of winter 2025/26, with Mayo County Council having reviewed its Severe Weather Response Plan and updated Winter Preparedness Plans.

Supplies of sandbags and salt for roads are in place, and arrangements have been formalised with private contractors for snow clearance and tree removal.

However, questions remain about whether the measures outlined in the report can be implemented quickly enough to protect Mayo communities from the next major storm.

The report acknowledges that climate change is increasing the frequency of Atlantic storms, meaning events like Storm Éowyn may become more common.