Ireland Reels From Storm Darragh
Ireland Battling Widespread Disruptions After Powerful Storm
Tens of thousands of people in Ireland remained without power on Saturday, the aftershocks of Storm Darragh disrupting daily life across the island.
The storm, packing the strongest winds to hit the country in four years, swept through the country overnight, leaving behind a trail of destruction and raising concerns about the extent of the damage.
Raging Winds Disrupt Power, Transport, and Communications
ESB Networks, the electricity provider, confirmed over 175,000 homes and businesses were without power on Saturday, after the powerful winds caused damage to power lines and equipment.
“It was similar in its destruction levels to Storm Ophelia in 2017,” an ESB Network spokesperson announced. “Power restoration efforts are ongoing but could take up to a week in some areas.”ReferralBeginning in the late afternoon, train services were running but with delays across several routes by evening. rojects
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Irish Rail reported significant delays, with Dublin-Belfast
services experiencing delays up to 90 minutes, and local services, like the Dart and services like without power. For many
How many homes and businesses were without power at the peak of Storm Darragh?
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Aoife O’Connell, a spokesperson for ESB Networks. Aoife, Ireland is reeling from the devastating effects of Storm Darragh. Can you tell us about the scale of the power outages and the challenges your teams are facing in restoring power?
**Aoife O’Connell:** The impact of Storm Darragh has been significant. Over 175,000 homes and businesses were without power at the peak of the storm. The winds were incredibly strong, causing widespread damage to our network infrastructure, including downed power lines and damage to equipment. Our teams have been working tirelessly since the storm hit, but the sheer scale of the damage means repairs will take time. Some areas could be without power for up to a week.
**Interviewer:** That’s a long time to be without power, especially as we head into the holiday season. What message would you like to give to those who are still waiting for their power to be restored?
**Aoife O’Connell:** We understand the frustration and inconvenience this is causing, and we want to assure everyone that we are doing everything we can to get the lights back on as quickly and safely as possible. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during this difficult time.
**Interviewer:** Aoife, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We wish you and the ESB Networks teams all the best in their ongoing efforts.
