Leitrim in the dark: Thousands still without power, water, and cell phone reception

As of January 28, approximately 9,500 customers remain without power across County Leitrim and surrounding areas following the widespread and extensive damage caused by Storm Éowyn.

Efforts to restore water supplies are also ongoing, with Uisce Éireann teams working to address disruptions. Significant progress has been made in recent days, but they say challenges remain.

The storm caused widespread power outages, including at all three of County Leitrim’s water treatment plants. While power has since been restored to these facilities and normal water supply has returned to most areas, some customers in South Leitrim—including Carrigallen, Newtowngore, Kilyvely, and Coraleehan—are still experiencing low water pressure or outages. This is primarily due to power failures at local pumping stations caused by the storm’s severe winds.

Crews are focused on restoring operations at affected water treatment plants and refilling depleted local reservoirs. Kevin Love of Uisce Éireann acknowledged the efforts of staff and the patience of customers, assuring the public that every effort is being made to restore full service as quickly as possible.

“It has been an extremely busy period for our engineers, supervisors, caretakers, and repair crews who have been working hard to restore water for our customers,” he said. “We are committed to returning the water supply to normal levels as quickly as possible.”

To support those impacted, alternative water supplies have been made available at Carrigallen Secondary School, Drumlea National School, Coraleehan Church, and McNamee’s Garage in Kilyvely. Customers are advised to bring their own containers to collect water and to boil it before consumption as a precaution.

The storm’s impact extended beyond water services, with significant power outages across the region. ESB Networks has published estimated restoration times, stating that the vast majority of customers who lost power during Storm Éowyn are expected to have their supply restored by Friday night, January 31. Remaining customers will progressively regain power over the following week.

Uisce Éireann is offering multiple support channels for affected residents. The customer care team is available 24/7 at 1800 278 278, and updates can also be accessed via X (formerly Twitter) @IWCare or through the Service and Supply section of their website, www.water.ie. A free text alert service has also been launched, providing real-time updates for local issues. Residents can register with their Eircode and mobile number on the website.

Customers are encouraged to conserve water during this time and can use the Uisce Éireann conservation calculator at www.water.ie/calculator for practical tips. Vulnerable customers registered with Uisce Éireann will receive direct communication about any planned or unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.

Uisce Éireann has reiterated its commitment to swiftly resolving remaining issues and restoring full water service to all customers in County Leitrim. ESB Networks continues their work to restore power to the thousands still affected.

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