County Council’s work after Storm Éowyn in the national spotlight

WORK undertaken by Galway County Council in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn is set to be showcased at a national local government event.

Storm Éowyn caused widespread disruption across Galway in January 2025, including prolonged power and communications outages. After the storm, community groups and local facilities played an important role in supporting people affected by the disruption.

The experience highlighted the value of strong community networks while also identifying the need for a more structured approach to coordinating community support during future emergencies.

Galway County Council subsequently formalised the County-Wide Community Support Centre Network, moving from an ad hoc response to a county-wide system with designated centres, agreed procedures and clear responsibilities.

The network will be showcased to local government officials from across Ireland on October 1 at the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) Customer Service Workshop 2026 in Kilkenny Castle.

The initiative, which has been developed further since December 2025, has put in place a more structured and coordinated approach to supporting communities during periods of significant disruption.

“Storm Éowyn provided a valuable learning experience for Galway County Council and communities across the county,” commented the council’s Director of Services Michael Owens.

"It demonstrated the strength of local community networks, while also highlighting the need for a clear and coordinated approach to supporting communities during major disruption.”

“Since then, the council has worked to formalise that approach, putting structures, procedures and relationships in place that can be activated when required.”

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to present this work at the NOAC Customer Service Workshop and to share our experience with colleagues from local authorities across the country.”

The council has established an expression of interest process for community groups wishing to become Community Support Centres, develop standard operating procedures and put arrangements in place to link the centres into the wider emergency management response.

Their initiatives have also included the development of a storm resilience and household preparedness brochures.