Storm Bram Leaves 25,000 Without Power; More Outages Expected

URGENT UPDATE: Approximately 25,000 homes, farms, and businesses are currently without power as the devastating effects of Storm Bram continue to wreak havoc across Ireland. The ESB Networks has warned that “further power outages can be expected” as high winds persist throughout the evening.

Earlier today, the entire country was under a Status Orange wind warning, which has since been lifted in most areas but remains in place for County Donegal until 9 PM. As of 8 PM, the ESB Networks reported that the outages are primarily concentrated in counties including Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford, and Wicklow. At one point today, a staggering 54,000 customers faced power interruptions.

The outages are largely attributed to fallen trees, which have brought down power lines across the affected regions. A spokesperson for ESB stated that crews and partner contractors have been deployed throughout the day to assess damage, secure the network, and restore electricity amid challenging conditions.

With a Status Yellow wind warning still in effect in several counties until midnight, ESB cautioned that the “dynamic nature of the event” means more outages could occur. Crews have worked diligently to restore power today, but the spokesperson indicated that some customers will remain without power overnight due to the extensive damage caused by Storm Bram.

“We acknowledge the disruption to family and commercial life this causes and thank impacted customers for their patience as our crews work to safely restore power,” the spokesperson added.

For those affected, ESB has committed to providing updates on estimated restoration times as assessments of network damage are completed. These updates will be accessible on www.PowerCheck.ie. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for ESB’s “Keep me Updated” service for real-time notifications regarding power outages.

In light of the hazardous conditions, ESB has issued a critical reminder: never approach or touch fallen wires or damaged electrical networks, as they may still be live and extremely dangerous. Any damage to electricity infrastructure should be reported immediately by calling 1800 372 999.

Stay alert for further developments as Storm Bram continues to impact communities across Ireland.