Appeal to fix unreliable power supply to west Mayo residents

People on Glenisland and surrounding areas are sick of having their lights and power cut out on a regular basis.

According to Councillor Harry Barrett, the problem is caused by a failing Knockaphunta line on the ESB Networks grid that keeps tripping off many times each month.

He elaborated: "Other nearby villages are not having this issue but Glenisland households are losing power again and again.

"This is causing real hardship for families and workers. Several elderly residents depend on medical devices like oxygen machines and mobility aids that need steady power at all times.

"Every time the power drops they are thrown into anxiety and risk serious harm. Businesses and homes face spoiled food, heating cuts and needless stress.

"I have been in regular contact with ESB Networks about this fault. I raised the ongoing outages with their local engineers and management.

"I asked them to explain why the same line keeps failing while other areas enjoy uninterrupted supply. I also called for them to urgently fix this ageing infrastructure before someone is seriously hurt.

"Residents tell me they want a long-term solution like the one seen in other parts of the country where sustained faults and repeated outages were addressed with upgraded equipment and network investments.

"There was a recent case in Meath where ESB Networks found and fixed a persistent fault after repeated outages and the company made moves to replace faulty network parts and transformers to stop the outages.

"That is the sort of decisive action I am calling on ESB to take here too.

"It is not enough for ESB Networks to apologise. People in Glenisland need firm timelines and clear action on repairing or replacing the Knockaphunta line so that power becomes reliable.

"I will continue to push ESB Networks, raise the issue with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities if needed, and explore all avenues to protect families in the area."