Storm-hit Irish towns are taking climate action into their own hands 

Joyce Fegan speaks to two communities in Cork and Leitrim that are working to become more more self-sufficient, and looking at two villages in the Netherlands and Germany that have achieved independence from the powergrid

Caroline Leahy, Catherine Power, Derry O’Neill, and Radu Sighencea are looking after their community. Picture: Chani Anderson

On January 24, Ireland was hit by the record-breaking Storm Éowyn, at its peak leaving 768,000 homes, farms, and businesses without power, and 130,000 without water.

The damage was so severe and widespread that the ESB had to call in almost 700 crew members, coming from Britain, Austria, France, Germany, Finland, Norway, and Northern Ireland.