With four named storms lashing County Galway over the past two years, the county council is tooling up for more. Two new gritter trucks cost Galway County Council €500,000 last year, bringing its specialist fleet to three dedicated vehicles.
The local authority also uses demountable gritters and ploughs fitted to nine of its tipper trucks to clear priority sections of its 6,700km road network across County Galway – the second largest roads route in Ireland after County Cork.
The council is responsible for winter treatment of around 1,300km of roads across the county, about half of which are designated priority routes, including strategic and mainly national roads.
Priority 1 and Priority 2 routes are treated whenever frost is forecast, while Priority 3 routes, primarily regional roads, are treated during more severe weather. Morning treatments are completed by 8 am.
Galway County Council says it has 3,600 tonnes of salt stored to help de-ice roads this winter, in case it is a cold one. Many local authorities were caught short during the exceptionally cold winter of 2010, when salt supplies ran low.
Long-term forecasts suggest winter 2026 will be mild, but an arctic air blast still has the capacity to bring freezing conditions to the west coast, which Met Éireann suggests could be facing a wet and unsettled winter this year.
As part of its storm season preparations, Galway County Council has established a network of 70 Community Support Centres to provide essential services to areas impacted by major weather emergencies.
The countywide Community Support Centre Network was established in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn which still scars the countryside almost two years later.
Each centre has a large, heated space for people to gather in, seating, kitchen facilities for providing basic refreshments, toilets, first aid equipment, Wi-Fi, device-charging facilities and a private room or additional space where required. Many centres also provide additional facilities such as showers, car parking, generators and accessible facilities.
A free Storm Preparation Guide has also been published for households, downloadable from www.galway.ie with printed copies available in English, Irish and Ukrainian from 29 public libraries.
The guide is designed to help households prepare for issues including prolonged electricity outages, travel disruption and interruptions to water or other essential services. It also sets out the supports available to people when severe weather causes significant disruption.
Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Andrew Reddington, said the guide was designed to help people prepare for severe weather, and know where to turn for support.
“Preparation is key when facing a major weather event. This guide provides practical advice on preparing for power outages, travel disruption and other impacts, while also highlighting the supports available to people and communities. Taking a few simple steps in advance can make a significant difference when severe weather strikes.”
Galway County Council Chief Executive, Liam Conneally, said Galway County Council has an important role to play with emergency services, community groups and other organisations in preparing for future weather emergencies.
“I would urge households and businesses across the county to visit www.galway.ie and familiarise themselves with key information in the Storm Preparation Guide, as well as the range of supports and services available during emergency situations.
“Being prepared in advance can make a significant difference when severe weather affects communities and essential services.”
Free alert service
Galway County Council Director of Services, Michael Owens, said households can take a number of simple steps to prepare for severe weather.
“People should monitor weather warnings, charge phones and power banks, have torches and a battery-powered radio available, secure outdoor items and check gutters and drains. We also encourage people to follow emergency advice, avoid unnecessary travel and prioritise their safety.
“I would also encourage people to register for the Council’s free MapAlerter service, which provides important alerts during severe weather and can be particularly valuable for people living in isolated areas, older people and those living alone.”
Community Support Centre Coordinator, Theresa Donohue, said the countywide Community Support Centre Network would play an important role in supporting communities during severe weather events.
“There were a lot of learnings from Storm Éowyn about how the local authority and communities can work together to better safeguard the safety and welfare of the public during weather emergencies.
“Our community support centre network is an important part of that approach and provides a structure through which communities can support people when there is significant disruption.”
For more information on the Storm Preparation Guide, visit www.galway.ie or email
