ESB Networks plans to carry out a €5m upgrade of the electricity supply network across western Conamara from September to January.
WestDoc, the HSE-funded service which operates emergency GP services across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, said it has not been informed of these planned outages. In the wake of Storm Éowyn last January, night time GP calls were down 75 per cent, partly as a result reduced mobile phone coverage after power cuts.
“We get good notice from the HSE about major gatherings of people, and alerts from Uisce Éireann about water outages, but not so much from the ESB,” said a WestDoc official.
In the days after Storm Éowyn, residents of Spiddal, Clifden, Carna and Inverin reported they could not make 999 calls on their mobile phones as masts had no power. Local health officials called on the Government to fund satellite phones to be installed in one GP surgery or Primary Care Centre in each district, but the Galway Advertiser understands no progress has been made to date.
“Nothing has happened. Just like a lot of things in this country, once the dust settles, it’s back to the same old,” said Carraroe GP, Dr Peter Sloane, who pointed to four deaths in rural Australia last week – including an eight-week-old baby – when a mobile network outage meant emergency ambulance calls were not possible
ESB Network engineers are understood to be conscious of communication concerns in rural Galway after Éowyn, and have contacted mobile phone networks to determine which areas do not have emergency generators for their masts.
“ESB Networks works with commercial customers, including telecommunications providers, in order to minimise the impact of planned outages where possible, and to allow these customers to make alternative arrangements during the outages,” said a spokesman.
Galway West TD, John Connolly, said he has been informed by ESB Networks that there will be intermittent disruptions to supply in the An Cheathrú Rua, Clifden, Recess, and Screebe areas of Conamara.
The first of the planned outages took place this week, and more are scheduled to late January, 2026.? Work will take place on an area-by-area basis. ESB said all customers impacted should be notified in advance via post and SMS with the time and date of the outage in their locality. ?
“The outages are inconvenient for people, as they can last for between four to eight hours, depending on the work, and especially as we are entering the coldest months of the year,” said Deputy Connolly. “However, they will occur on one or two days only, and will result in better, upgraded, and more reliable electricity services, so in the medium to long-term, the public will benefit from these works.”
The Fianna Fáil TD said the works, costing more than €5 million, will replace electricity poles and overhead lines, making them more resilient to severe weather events.
“Since Storm Éowyn, people within the Conamara area have highlighted an increase in the occurrence of electricity outages. This is due to the current inadequacy of the infrastructure servicing the network. This investment is important in trying to prevent future unexpected outages.”
Connolly said the ESB has committed to keeping Conamara residents informed. “Good communication is vital and will allow people to make provisions in advance of the outages.”
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