Broadband blackout is storm’s lingering legacy
The disruption left in the wake of Storm Éowyn continued this week for many Galway residents as a broadband ‘blackout’ persisted in several areas of the county.
While all homes had power restored by Tuesday evening, many remain without broadband as Eir struggles to get to grips with the damage caused by record-breaking winds on January 24.
Galway West TD, John Connolly, told the Connacht Tribune that while mobile phone signal had been restored in most areas, widespread individual faults on the Eir network – which provides connections for almost all internet providers – had yet to be addressed.
“I got a response from Eir this week that confirmed that they are addressing this in phases. The response was lacking in detail but what it did confirm is that many of the issues are individual – the line going into separate houses and it is going to take them time to fix those,” he said.
Headford-based Councillor Andrew Reddington said constituents right across the Tuam MD were being plagued by the problem.
Businesses were unable to take card payments, he said, while remote workers had been left in the lurch for almost three weeks.
Hitting out at Eir, Vodafone and other providers under the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) umbrella, he said communication with customers had been dire.
“There is a complete internet blackout in North Galway with no indication of when services will be restored,” said the Fine Gael councillor.
Caption: This photo from reader Simon Conneely shows the damage caused by Storm Éowyn at Wild Atlantic Way Marconi Alcock and Brown Derrigimlagh Discovery Heritage Point Trail near Clifden.
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