'Best in communities' came out during cold snap this week, says Cork TD

Cork County Council is urging all road users to exercise extreme care, especially in areas with compacted snow, as rain and melting snow will lead to treacherous driving conditions over the coming days.

Drivers are asked to slow down, even in places that have thawed, as there may be significant damage to road surfaces across the county, warning that “lying snow and ice will continue to be an issue in North-West and North Cork”.

The council will continue to deploy additional resources to clear routes throughout the weekend, prioritising providing access to isolated communities in the worst-affected areas and ensuring good access to schools before Monday.

Council crews are being supported by contractors, with Cork City Council also providing machinery.

As the week of snow and ice draws to a close, with warmer temperatures beginning to melt lying snow, community groups and individuals will be hoping for some well-deserved rest.

Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West, told The Echo: “I’d like to pay particular tribute to the people in the communities; the neighbours, people with 4x4s and tractors, the agricultural community who did huge work to help with clearing the roads and getting to people.

“There’s been a huge community effort made, and a sense of the best in communities coming out — people went out of their way for isolated people. Over the last week, a lot of people have got the essential supplies delivered into their home by tractors.

“I think the enormity of what has happened has generally gone unnoticed nationally — you have sheds collapsing, animals stranded, extensions to houses collapsing in some places, roofs of pubs collapsing.

“There is great merit due to the human endeavour of volunteers who made themselves available to help others in this national crisis.”

Local authority, power, and water service crews have been out in the cold weather all week, as well as gardaí who have been making food deliveries to people in areas including Newmarket and Fermoy.

The Irish Red Cross Mallow-Charleville Unit had a number of 4x4s and ambulance vehicles on the road assisting the HSE in getting patients to and from hospitals, and also moving staff to and from work.

Their team is made up entirely of volunteers, including advanced paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and nurses, who have been assisting the National Ambulance Service with emergency taskings, as well as other volunteers from farmers to accountants.

Cork West Civil Defence volunteers have also been very busy, with tasks including the collection of ambulance personnel, night nurses, care assistants, hospital staff, and members of An Garda Síochána from their homes to bring them to work.

They have transported dialysis patients to hospital for essential medical treatment, delivered Meals on Wheels to elderly and vulnerable people in remote locations, and delivered groceries and medication to families who have not been able to leave their homes.

Civil Defence officer Maeve Hourihan told The Echo: “Cork West Civil Defence volunteers are highly trained and are prepared to support events such as this. All volunteers are qualified in ‘severe weather off-road driving’.

“In saying this, volunteers all have their own full-time jobs and families. Our volunteers generously give their time as they are committed to supporting their local community and people in need.” 

Businesses have also been doing their bit – Skibbereen Sports and Fitness Centre made their shower facilities available all week to anyone in the community without water or power.

Charleville Park Hotel became a hub for people in the community under the ESB initiative, with nearly 200 locals attending to refresh, charge their phones and enjoy a hot meal.

In the city, Cork City Council spread more than 1,000 tonnes of salt on public roads, footpaths, and housing estates during the cold snap, Paul Moynihan, director of services in the council’s operations directorate, said.

Approximately 950 tonnes of salt were spread on public roads during this period, while approximately 60 tonnes went on footpaths and blackspots, and approximately 70 tonnes to local communities and estates. 

This was in addition to bags of salt which were distributed to a number of estates earlier in the season.

Mr Moynihan said that due to the council crews working around the clock during unsociable hours, citizens were able to go about their lives, with much of the city passable over the week due to their work.

He added that council crews had worked closely with An Garda Síochána, Cork City Fire Brigades, and Civil Defence crews to ensure that public safety was maintained.

“City council crews have always worked on the front line during severe weather events and emergency situations.

“During the recent cold snap, our crews worked every day and night to ensure the public’s safety,” Mr Moynihan said.

“Working unsociable hours, our crews ensured that when people woke each day to go about their lives, they could do so safely. For that, I thank them for their efforts.”