Thousands still without

Fourteen days after Storm Éowyn tore through Ireland, thousands of homes across the West and Northwest remain without power. On Thursday, the figures provided to MEPs by ESB Networks paint a stark picture: 12,000 households are still in the dark, with counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, Sligo, Longford, and Monaghan worst affected.

If such widespread outages persisted for this length of time in Dublin, there would be absolute uproar. Emergency response teams would be deployed en masse, and government ministers would be falling over themselves to be seen “on the ground” delivering solutions. Yet here in the West, the prolonged suffering of ordinary people is met with weary acceptance—a testament to a sad reality that has plagued this region for generations: we are left behind, and we continue to allow it to happen.

Disaster response or exposure of neglect?

Storm Éowyn’s impact was unprecedented, with the strongest recorded winds since records began battering Ireland’s western counties. Homes, businesses, farms, and community spaces were devastated. The response from local communities was swift and resilient. Volunteers worked tirelessly to clear roads, distribute supplies, and establish emergency hubs to provide basic necessities such as water, heat, and phone charging stations.

But where was the state? ESB Networks crews and county council workers have done extraordinary work, yet there remains a fundamental issue: why is our infrastructure so vulnerable in the first place? Why are communities in Roscommon, Leitrim, and Mayo still waiting two weeks for power restoration? Why do our telecommunications networks collapse at the first sign of extreme weather? The answer is painfully obvious. The west and northwest have been systematically underfunded, ignored, and abandoned.

This is not about the failure of emergency response teams in the aftermath of the storm. It is about decades of political neglect, about infrastructure that was never properly built or maintained, and about successive governments that prioritise urban Ireland while treating rural regions as afterthoughts.

A pattern of disregard

Storm Éowyn is just the latest reminder of the neglect that has been allowed to fester in the West. Whether it is broadband blackspots, the closure of rural post offices and Garda stations, a chronic lack of investment in roads and public transport, or the closure of vital services like A&E departments, the trend is unmistakable.

The closure of power stations, without ensuring the necessary infrastructure was in place to support an all-electric energy network, has left thousands dependent on an unreliable grid. Government policy continues to push towards an energy model that assumes every home has the resilience of those in the greater Dublin area. The reality is starkly different. People in rural areas have been left to fend for themselves.

For years, we have been told about regional investment, about initiatives to “revitalise” rural Ireland. And yet, when crisis strikes, the cracks in these empty promises become painfully evident. The West is always last in line.

Electoral amnesia: why do we accept this?

Despite this consistent neglect, election after election, the people of the West and Northwest return the same parties and politicians to the Government. The same voices that have overseen this era of decline are rewarded with another term in power, another mandate to continue as before. Why?

There is an entrenched political culture in Ireland of voting for the familiar, of opting for the “devil you know.” Local representation often trumps national impact. Yet, as storms like Éowyn remind us, local issues are national issues. The Government’s failure to properly invest in and prioritise rural Ireland should not be forgotten when polling day comes around.

This is not to say that a simple change in voting patterns will solve everything overnight. But political complacency thrives on predictability. As long as rural Ireland continues to vote for those who ignore it, nothing will change.

The cost of inaction

There will be another storm. There will be another crisis. And if nothing changes, we will be here again, talking about prolonged outages, fragile infrastructure, and government inaction. Communities will once again rally together, supporting one another in the absence of real state intervention. But goodwill and resilience are not substitutes for proper investment and governance.

The people of the West deserve better. They deserve infrastructure that is built to withstand modern realities. They deserve services that are not constantly under threat of closure. They deserve a government that treats them with the same urgency and priority as it does the urban centres.

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Cllr Fallon was speaking following a meeting between Minister for the OPW Kieran O’Donnell TD, representatives of the OPW and Roscommon County Council, local councillors, Oireachtas members, and a number of residents affected by flooding at Lough Funshinagh.

“There is no doubt there is an absolute commitment from the Government, OPW, and Roscommon County Council to find a solution as quickly as possible,” outlined Cllr Fallon. “Work on the long-term solution of a pipe to Lough Ree is ongoing, with a view to making an application to An Bord Pleanála late this year or early next year.

“It is hoped that a positive result can then be obtained to allow the matter to return to the High Court and for the work to proceed, hopefully within the next twelve months”.

However, Cllr Fallon pointed out that the more immediate concern is that Lough Funshinagh is currently 1.65m higher than this time last year.

“The huge difficulty is that we have to survive next winter,” explained Cllr Fallon. “The only real option is to remove a quantity of water from Lough Funshinagh. The preferred option is a pumping system into the Cross River. This application will probably go to An Bord Pleanála at the end of August, and it is hoped it will receive a quick response with the work then beginning quickly.

“The most frightening observation from the OPW was the confirmation that there are now only two options for next winter. One is to allow the lake to rise to a natural height, which will be much higher than last year and would mean it would then flow uncontrolled into the village of Curraghboy and reach the Cross River uncontrolled. That is a highly dangerous situation and would destroy many houses and large tracts of farm land.

“The second, and only real, option is to remove water by pump, therefore controlling the flow. The land between Lough Funshinagh and the Cross River would then not be flooded as the water would be controlled to prevent any flood adjacent to the river.

“I am appealing to everyone to cooperate to find the best solution to save homes and farm land around Lough Funshinagh and Curraghboy this winter,” concluded Cllr Fallon.

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In Roscommon, there are approximately 19,000 premises in the Intervention Area (IA), which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools. Under the National Broadband Plan, Co Roscommon will see an investment of €76m in the new high-speed fibre network.

Having successfully completed the survey and design phase of the project, 2,378 premises in the Elphin deployment areas are now under construction to have high-speed fibre. National Broadband Ireland’s website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates.

Works have also already been completed in other parts of Roscommon, and there are 11,749 premises that can now order or pre-order high-speed, reliable broadband across the county, with 3,624 premises already connected to the network.

TJ Malone (Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland Deployment) said, “Our teams are working on the ground all over the country and considerable progress has been made on the developments in Roscommon. High-speed fibre broadband is now available to order for over 11,700 premises including almost 2,500 premises near Carrick-on-Shannon, over 3,700 near Castlerea, almost 3,600 near Roscommon town, over 800 in the Ballinasloe deployment area near Ballydangan, and almost 800 in the Athlone deployment area near Monksland.

“We are pleased to be commencing construction on 2,400 homes, businesses and farms surrounding Elphin. Local residents will be able to connect to the NBI Network between January and June 2025.

“Construction works are also underway for over 1,800 premises in the Curraghboy deployment area, while other areas of the county are progressing through engineering survey and design phases”.

BCPs will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband, from mobile working, e-learning and mobile banking, to digital tourism.

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MEP Flanagan said, “I read and listened with astonishment to the comments of Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey. He states that it’s ‘quite significant’ that politicians from Europe are coming to Ireland and that ‘The EU is listening’.

“It’s quite significant alright. The reason they are here in the first place is because those people affected were not listened to and are still not being listened to by his Government. This is the very reason I, along with colleagues from the Left Group in the European Parliament, organised this mission. The very reason why I suggested to the campaigners in the first place that they should petition the European Parliament’s PETI committee.

“For three days MEPs have met with those families affected. They have sat in destroyed kitchens. They have stood in mouldy and damp bedrooms. They have listened to their stories. Stories laced with sheer frustration. Frustration that this happened in the first place. Frustration at what is an impossible puzzle of a redress scheme. Frustration and despair that this is still happening to this very day. Frustration at local and national government for a complete and utter failure to carry out market surveillance of construction products. A failure to properly implement a European regulation on Market Surveillance.

“Last May the head of the National Building Control and Market Surveillance offices said they are faced with a ‘national emergency’. They have pleaded with the government for ‘additional resources’ and warned of ‘severe staff shortages’. They have clearly stated that the NCBO has been ‘understaffed since its inception’.

“We heard many things throughout the three-day mission”, continued MEP Flanagan. “But one thing we didn’t hear from the two Fine Gael MEPs present, was an apology. An apology for the hell that their government has created for these people.

“When I first heard that Fine Gael MEPs would be attending, I was surprised to say the least. Given that the only reason the event needed to be held in the first place was because Fine Gael has let people down for years.

“Another reason why I was surprised to hear MEP Markey’s comments was because those attending had been requested not to speak to the press in advance of the mission”.

MEP Flanagan concluded, saying, “Now that the mission is completed, the committee has the information that it needs to write a report, which will help unlock people from the prison of despair that they have been put in. Particular thanks must be given to the PETI committee Chair Delores Montserrat MEP. Without her attendance this mission would not have taken place”.

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This enhancement is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 977 will be enhanced to operate up to eight daily return services Monday to Saturday between Sligo and Ballaghaderreen – four of which will extend to Castlerea – and three daily return services on Sunday, with all services extending to Castlerea. The route will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Loughglynn, Gurteen, Bunninadden, Ballymote, Collooney and Ballisodare.

The enhanced route will continue to provide peak-time and evening services for commuters and will also provide improved connectivity to regional bus services, ATU Sligo Campus, Sligo University Hospital and St Angela’s Campus.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Donegal Sligo Leitrim General Manager Fiona O’Shea said, “Route 977 is the fifth enhanced service in the Sligo area in recent weeks and we are delighted to once again announce increased frequency on a service which will be well received by the local communities along the route.

“This enhanced service will open up opportunities for local residents to access education, employment, health, social and recreational opportunities and onward travel from early morning to late evening”.

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‘About ten days ago or so, people started coming in their droves looking for the hay fever cure at St Faithleach’s Holy Well… there was a guy in here who drove from Cavan last week looking for a cure for his young fella’ – Joe O’Brien

For as long as I can remember I’ve suffered with sinus issues – and each year whenever the pollen count is high or there’s a change in the weather, I’m rendered a sniffling, coughing, choking wreck.

Now though, thanks to the divine intervention of St Brendan’s brother, St Faithleach, it might finally be safe to throw away the Clarityn and go run around a meadow!

That’s as the Holy Well of St Faithleach, located in a nondescript sliver of land just outside Ballyleague, has gone viral in recent weeks as a possible provider of a cure for hay fever.

According to the locals, people have been arriving in their droves from all over Ireland to sample the healing water for themselves and the well has even featured on national radio stations.

With all that in mind, the Roscommon People decided it was time to head out towards Ballyleague this week to investigate.

I’m sure, much like this reporter, that St Faithleach and his brother Brendan the Navigator, would be relieved to know that the well is actually quite easy to locate on Google Maps. Located on the right-hand side just before Ballyleague, the well’s location is marked by a helpful information board.

The first thing visitors will notice is a statue of Our Lady adorned with a number of scapulars and rosary beads. There are also memorial cards as well as some children’s toys, and at least two pairs of sunglasses at the bottom of the well itself. Though it’s not known whether the shades were intentional offerings or accidental offerings, dropped there by head-dipping pilgrims.

The well, which was initially said to contain stomach healing properties, contains cool but stagnant water, so unsure of how to proceed, I decided to splash some on my face after being talked out of drinking it by the People photographer. Then, all we could do was wait for the healing process to begin.

Twenty minutes later, not feeling any better or worse, we were stood inside Joe O’Brien’s shop in Lanesboro as he explained the recent increase in sniffling pilgrims to the area.

“It was always a popular well throughout my youth as a cure for stomach issues and even for domestic use.

“Then, about ten days ago or so, people started coming in their droves looking for the hay fever cure at St Faithleach’s Holy Well,” Joe said.

“I believe it started with a comment on Facebook and now they’re coming from all over the country – there was a guy in here who drove from Cavan last week looking for a cure for his young fella”.

It turned out we hadn’t completed the necessary ablutions correctly and if we wanted to be free from the curse of hay fever we’d have to stop once more on the way back to Roscommon.

“You wash your face three times with the water,” Joe said.

“The water can also be brought home and administered to other people too”.

So, back to St Faithleach’s Well we went to complete the sacred healing ritual at the second time of asking, washing our faces three times with the water.

Fast-forward two days to the time of writing and I have to say my sinuses have cleared noticeably. There might just be something in the water after all!

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Each summer, holiday-makers can be found enjoying the peaceful waterways of County Roscommon, and the Lough Ree Access For All visitor centre in Ballyleague-Lanesboro is certainly no different.

Shane Moran, who works at the centre, said the last couple of months have been extremely busy.

“Since May, we have been booked up with visitors from all over the country,” he began, just before being interrupted by another call on the booking line.

Shane has worked at Lough Ree Access For All for just over a year and says the opening of the state-of-the-art facility was great for the area.

Dubliner Harry Sheehy is a boat skipper and trainer and describes his work as “the best job in the world”.

Harry said the numbers of visitors to the facility were up “over 60 per cent” since last year and that there was a regular flow of group visits in recent weeks.

“We can tailor excursions to suit different groups which some larger boats cannot do. We can accommodate nine on the boat so it means we have more flexibility,” he said.

“We recently had a group who wanted a tour of some of the islands and to learn about the history. We can offer that”.

Improvements are ongoing at Lough Ree Access For All and the centre is in the process of installing a new hydraulic jetty ramp in order to make the amenity even more accessible for those with limited mobility.

As we waved skipper Harry and a group celebrating a birthday party off in the Estonian-built Access For All boat and prepared to set sail for home, an impressive cruiser carrying six merry souls pulled in beside us.

One of those aboard was casting off at the back of the vessel while the others were admiring the Access For All boat while sipping cans of beer.

Crossing the language barrier, it was revealed that the men were from near Basel in Switzerland (home of the “not so great anymore FC Basel”) and were in Ireland for a week-long fishing holiday on the Shannon.

Their cruiser didn’t appear to be weighted down with fish but they assured us they would keep trying and were enjoying their trip nonetheless!

Harry Sheehy would later tell us that it wasn’t an optimal time of year for fishing on Lough Ree, but the recent good weather, local history and the friendly welcome that was evident this week in Ballyleague-Lanesboro probably made up for that.

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Public meetings were arranged as local residents voiced their opposition to the development while highlighting noise and ‘flicker’ disturbances caused by the giant rotating wind turbines.

Since then, local opposition aside, the wind farm, developed on Coillte lands, has become an extremely popular amenity for families, walkers, runners, and indeed nature and history enthusiasts.

Almost six years on from the official opening of the Sliabh Bawn recreation facilities, local senator, Eugene Murphy, says that while the wind farm was still a sore point for some, the site has also become an important attraction for visitors to the area.

“Some people are still annoyed about the development of the wind farm and I know that from speaking to local residents,” he began.

“But in general I would say it’s like traffic passing by your house in that you get used to it.

“For me, it’s like Heaven on Earth and I love getting out of the Lion’s Den here in Dublin and taking a walk up Sliabh Bawn. It’s great for peace of mind and it’s great for the lungs, and I would be a huge advocate of it”.

Senator Murphy also believes that initiatives such as the Sliabh Bawn Community Benefit Fund – joint venture between Bord na Móna, Coillte and Greencoats Renewables – have proved successful.

“The community fund has assisted a number of local festivals; the playground in Strokestown has benefitted; and other projects in Ballyleague and Scramogue. It has been a help, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“The development at Sliabh Bawn has also brought people to the area. I’ve spoken to a number of people in Dublin who told me they managed to fit in a couple of hours on the trails during visits to Strokestown Park House”.

While the amenity boasts a number of attractions such as various trails and exercise equipment as well as nature trails and old historic ruins, Senator Murphy has urged Sliabh Bawn DAC to provide additional facilities.

“I have been speaking to people in Coillte about the need for an area for people with disabilities, a second playground and more nature trails,” he said.

The Fianna Fáil Senator said that he has also raised the significance of Sliabh Bawn with representatives of Fáilte Ireland in a bid for further promotion as part of the Hidden Heartlands brand.

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Cllr Anthony Waldron said he also raised the issue of rural planning with members of the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage while at an Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) seminar in Mullingar last week.

“Rural planning guidelines are harming our local communities and something needs to be done to fix this,” Cllr Waldron said.

“The Government also don’t fully appreciate the work being carried out on the ground by local volunteers…work that is keeping many parts of rural Ireland alive”.

Cllr Waldron, who is the main organiser of the annual Suck Valley Way Conference in Roscommon, also took aim at the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) for not doing more to promote the county.

“I will be proposing a motion at the next meeting of Roscommon County Council, calling on the local authority to invite the CEO of the IDA to the Chamber to explain why more isn’t being done to promote jobs in this area”.

Cllr Waldron highlighted the threat of closure faced by local national schools as well as dwindling membership numbers in GAA clubs as evidence that rural Ireland was being neglected by bodies like the IDA.

“I fully believe that people want to come back to counties like Roscommon. They want to live and work here and we need them here in order to preserve our local schools and sports clubs,” he said.

“It has been shown that there are many benefits to living in rural areas particularly when it comes to mental health and wellbeing and participation in sports. The time for action is running out,” he concluded.

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Among the award winners, which were announced in October of last year, Keadue won the overall regional title as well as the county award for Roscommon, while Castlecoote was ‘highly commended’, Cloontuskert was ‘commended’ and Moore took home the Endeavour award.

Ballintubber was the national Heritage award winner while Kilteevan was recognised in the Sustainable Development and Waters and Communities categories.

Roscommon joined Keadue as a gold medal winner while Castlecoote took silver, and Ballintubber and Cloontuskert took home bronze.

The prizes were presented by Deputy Frank Feighan on behalf of Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys, and Richard Lennon, regional manager with SuperValu.

Deputy Feighan congratulated the winners and made reference to the recent launch of the 2023 SuperValu TidyTowns competition, which this year celebrates 65 years of environmental and community initiatives.

Deputy Feighan said: “I am delighted to be in a position to attend the awards on behalf of Minister Humphreys and I encourage committees to avail of the €1.4 million in grant funding that Minister Humphreys announced at the results of the 2022 competition last October.

“In recent years, thousands of individuals have volunteered with TidyTown groups and in doing so have made our country a place that we can all be proud of.

“I have such admiration for the volunteers from the eight counties in the North West and West region and for all the volunteers who have put their shoulder to the wheel in the last 65 years to make our communities more attractive, inclusive and sustainable places for everyone”.

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