Tag Archives: ESB

AFTER the storm comes the damage assessment and the clean up in County Clare. Hurricane-like conditions, which swept through the county on Wednesday left a trail of destruction in its wake. Winds gusting up to 160kph brought down power supply lines, uprooted trees, leading to numerous road closures, while slates were ripped from houses and property damaged. At the height of Storm Darwin, the ESB estimated that as many as 20,000 homes and businesses were left without power across the county. The south east of the county was worst affected with power outages reported in Killaloe,  Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket, Clarecastle, Tulla, Ennis and other pockets of the county. Despite the fact that ESB Networks crews have been out in force trying to restore power supplies, many of those areas still remain without power. The problems facing many home owners have also been exacerbated, as the knock-on effect of outages was the lack of water supply. Many householders could have to …

TENS of thousands of people in Clare were affected by hurricane-force winds which battered the county on Wednesday in the most recent storm to hit the country. More than 20,000 homes and businesses were without power on Wednesday evening with ESB Networks stating that this situation and that continues to be the case on this Thursday.  In fact some homes, farms and businesses may be without electricity and water for at least another day. Fallen trees blocked roads in many areas, buildings were damaged and a number of road accidents, including two incidents of trucks jack-knifing, took place as extremely high winds swept through the county from early afternoon. Shannon Airport was closed for much of the day due to high winds. A plane parked there was blown over on its side but was empty at the time and no one was injured in the incident. Met Eireann’s radar at Shannon Airport was also damaged by high winds. Clare County …

CLARE County Council, An Garda Siochána, the Fire Service and Clare Civil Defence are responding to more than 150 separate weather related incidents around the county. Several thousand homes in areas right across the county are without electricity. An emergency number – 1890 252 943 – has been established for members of the public to report fallen trees, blocked roads and flooding. This number will be operational until 7.30pm. The south-east of the county is one of the worst affected areas, particularly in Killaloe and around Sixmilebridge, with fallen trees reported on most routes. The north and west of the county have also been badly affected. Clare County Council says it expects storm conditions to abate later this evening but it is urging members of the public to avoid making any unnecessary journeys due to storm debris and traffic lights out of operation on the county’s roads.

By Carol Byrne AN inquest into the death of a tree surgeon, who was electrocuted by power lines, hear this week that the practice of using pole pruners has been changed by the ESB. Christopher Lysaght from Finniterstown, County Limerick died after the pole pruners he was using came in contact with power lines, while he was working at Hurlers Cross, near Shannon, in May 2010. In addition to confirmation that pole pruners are no longer used in this kind of work, the jury at the inquest made a recommendation that electricity should be turned off when such works are taking place, in the interest of safety. Evidence of cause of death and identity had been heard at a previous sitting of the coroner’s count. In a deposition, Mr Lysaght’s colleague, Jean Pierre Auvert said he and his crew were maintaining hedges at the Hurler’s Cross. He said the crew got permission from the landowner to carry out works. They …