Communities rally together to help those in need during cold snap

Jack Collins using a tractor to bring home the shopping from O’Keeffe’s SuperValu in Newmarket, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The worst of the weather has brought out the best in people as heartwarming stories have emerged of how members of the public have gone out of their way to help the most vulnerable in their communities.

As temperatures were set to plunge as low as -8C last night, thousands of homes were still anxiously waiting to get power back or to finally get access to essential supplies.

Milk delivery to Meaney’s Centra in Dromcollogher in Limerick. Ned Kiely (holding the milk) and John White (driving) delivering the milk on the tractor on Monday. Picture: Centra/Facebook

Most of country remains in the midst of a status orange low temperature and ice warning today. The predicted Arctic temperatures are expected to persist at least until Friday, impacting on all areas but especially where snow is still lying on the ground.

ESB Networks technician Anthony McHugh and crew working on a single phase 20kV line to restore electricity power to homes at Araglin, near Kilworth, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

So local communities have rallied together to clear as much snow and ice as possible and do what they can to bring some normality to those who have been left isolated, particularly in elevated parts of north Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Kerry, and Limerick.

Farmers were out in their tractors helping to clear local roads to ensure food deliveries and to keep Meals and Wheels services running.

Limerick farmer Tom O’Sullivan, from Ardpartrick, towed a SuperValu articulated truck into Charleville where road conditions were described as near impassable.

In Newmarket, farmers cleared the car park and local roads to and from Duhallow Community Food Services to ensure volunteers could deliver hot meals to some 250 elderly people in the area.

While the service’s vans were able to travel some of the main roads, it needed 4X4 vehicles and even tractors to reach some individual houses in the region.

It appealed for volunteers with suitable vehicles to help where possible in their own local areas, and it urged people in need of assistance, such as those who might need essential groceries and urgent prescriptions, to contact them.

The Cork North and East Civil Defence Unit has been working around the clock since Sunday, responding to a variety of calls to snowbound rural areas across Kanturk, Rockchapel, Liscarroll, Freemount, Dromina, Charleville, and Mallow in North Cork.

Ger Sheehan, the acting civil defence officer for the unit, said volunteers have been working in shifts to provide a daily 24-hour response.

In Limerick, the ESB used a helicopter to identify network faults and restore power to homes without electricity. One pharmacy in Kilfinane, Co Limerick, battled to open its doors on Tuesday after heavy snowfall, offering to deliver prescriptions to elderly in the area who may have been left stranded.

ESB Networks technician Brian Molan responding to a faullt on a power line in North Cork. They were working on a single phase 20kV line to restore electricity power to homes at Araglin, near Kilworth, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Nicola Ryan, who works as a pharmacist at Powers Pharmacy, said she could not get to the shop on Monday and admitted she was more worried about the coming days as temperatures dropped. 

She said: “I could have stayed at home and said: 'Look, I cannot gain access to the pharmacy', but I knew that people needed their tablets today, so I had to."

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