Calls for direct ESB contact in Leitrim after Storm Éowyn outages

During Storm Éowyn when phone signals and internet were down, people struggled to access reliable information about what was happening and when power would be restored. Community hubs provided support, offering phone charging, water refills, and shower facilities but telecommunication remained an issue, leading to frustration.

As a result, Drumshanbo councillor Enda McGloin is calling on the ESB to provide a direct local contact to offer clarity in the event of another major power outage.

Cllr McGloin raised the motion at a meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District, proposing "concise information on individual breakdowns in electricity service in a similar way to the service currently provided by Uisce Éireann.”

He described trying to get accurate information as “one of the biggest frustrations during the storm.” 

While he praised the Roads department of Leitrim County Council, and Uisce Éireann for their communication, he noted that getting information from ESB was particularly difficult.

Cllr McGloin pointed out that people living in very rural areas, who hadn’t seen an ESB van for days, felt forgotten and had no idea what was happening.

“We need a general idea. Even if the answer isn’t good news, it’s better to come back with something concrete,” Cllr McGloin said. “We want a direct contact not a general phone line.”

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His motion was met with strong support from members.

“The ESB power check was a bit of a failure and there was a lot of misinformation going around,” Cllr Gary Prior commented.

“Unless you met some of the workers on the ground you didn’t really know what areas were going to be brought back,” he added.

Cllr Róisín Kenny agreed saying, “We should be able to get more up to date information even if it is bad news like it’s going to take two weeks, at least people can make preparations for that.”

Cllr Paddy O’Rourke noted that some people would’ve taken their elderly parents to stay with them during the outage if they had known how long the power would be out.

A reply from Economic Development stated, “Leitrim County Council will write to ESB Networks requesting the name of a local contact with responsibility for the network in Leitrim.

“It should be noted that a contact name was provided to the elected members at the last Ballinamore MD meeting in the immediate aftermath of Storm Eowyn.”

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