AS THE sustained cold snap drags on across the county, the heartmelting warmth of Limerick’s community spirit has been on full display throughout the past week.
From heroic teams from Limerick City and County Council working around the clock to keep roads as safe as possible to dedicated local representatives and community members making sure deliveries were made and people were as safe and comfortable as posssible, the last week has shown Limerick band together to keep going in the dangerous weather conditions.
While a Status Orange low temperature and ice warning expires across Limerick this Thursday morning (January 9), which saw widespread snow and frosty conditions hit the entirety of the county, with some areas getting up to two feet of snow, a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning remains in place across the country until Friday.
Met Éireann has continued its warnings of extreme cold temperatures, with hazardous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot, travel disruption, and poor visibility into Friday afternoon.
As a result of the heavy snowfall and ice this past week, there was widespread disruption across the county by both air and land, with a number of flights diverted to Shannon Airport on account of the dangerous weather.
Amid the extreme cold turn, which saw temperatures projected to have dipped as low in Limerick as -6 on Tuesday night and -8 on Wednesday, Limerick City and County Council have said that crews remain on hand to treat national and strategic regional roads, identified in the Winter Maintenance Plan.
“Extreme caution is advised on roads and footpaths while the weather warning is in place … Driving conditions will be hazardous with black ice in places,” a Council spokesman said.
Elsewhere, a Council senior engineer warned that with 4,000 kilometres of roads in Limerick, “it is not possible to treat every road and pedestrian area”.
Meanwhile, the HSE advised people to take extra care as a result of the cold, and to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, urging older and vulnerable people especially to stay at home until the cold snap passes.
Maria Bridgeman, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for HSE Mid West said that keeping warm and staying indoors is the best way of managing during the cold spell.
“HSE Mid West is making every effort to provide essential services such as home supports and community nursing. However, disruptions to hospital and community services are expected to continue for the remainder of this week due to the hazardous travelling conditions,” Ms Bridgeman said.
Staff at University Hospital Limerick worked with outpatients across the week to ensure as many appointments as possible could be kept, or rescheduled in cases where it wasn’t safe or advisable for patients to make the journey.
No power or running water
Thousands were left without electricity or running water in their homes and businesses across the week, with many still waiting for services to be resumed.
Uisce Éireann has said that works to 19 water treatment plants impacted by the snow, which left thousands of people across Limerick without water, are largely complete.
As of Tuesday evening, the utility said, all treatment plants, with the exception of Ballyagran, were back up and running.
Areas that were affected by water outages include Athea, Templeathea, Direen, Kilmeedy, and Dromcollogher.
Up to 10,000 people across the county were left without electricity, with many in sounth and west Limerick still waiting for power to be restored at time of going to print on Wednesday. Some are expected to be without power into this Thursday.
It is understood the ESB called in helicopter teams from the Defence Forces in recent days to help with the restoration of power on lines in West Limerick.
The utility also made arrangements for those still without power in West Limerick to access food and power supplies at the Longcourt Hotel in Newcastle West, while those close to Abbeyfeale were provided with facilities at Leens Hotel.
Even the courts services were interrupted during the week, with some sittings at Newcastle West adjourned until later in the month.
Limerick bands together
Despite the major upheaval throughout the week, the people of Limerick rallied together to look after one another and keep life moving on Shannonside.
In Croom, workers from Adare Farm Machinery gave up their time to plough through the snow and ice at Croom Town Park carpark, with local Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue also out and about in his 4×4 helping with supplies, aid, and emergency transport for those in need.
In Galbally, locals were praised on social media for helping to organise transport to shops for those who remain snowed in, as well as digging in to help dig out driveways for those who were stranded in their homes.
In Bruff, local church caretaker Valerii was praised on high for keeping the path to the Church of St Peter and Paul clear so parishoners could get to mass each morning.
In Clarina, local man Patrick Hartigan was on hand to plough through the snow at O’Sullivan’s Centra’s carpark so that locals could stop in and safely get their groceries, while in Dromcollogher, vital supplies of milk were brought to Meaney’s Centra by tractor with the help of Ned Kiely and John White.
Clean Ireland Recycling also paid tribute to their collection staff, who were working across the week to maintain waste collection services where possible.
Continued caution has been urged as the tail of the cold snap continues across Thursday and into Friday afternoon, with public services advising people in the community to check in on elderly, infirm, or vulnerable neighbours.
