Southside braves Storm Emma and the ‘Beast from the East’

Rachel Farrell

RESIDENTS and community groups across the Southside joined forces to tackle ‘The Beast from The East’ and Storm Emma last week.

South Dublin County Council deployed their full fleet of gritters and ploughs to clear the roads for residents. Over 80 tonnes of salt and grit were applied over 700km of road space within a 24-hour period, according to their Facebook page.

Gardaí from Crumlin and Sundrive Road delivered 220 meals to the elderly in Dublin 12 and appealed to locals to check in on the elderly and vulnerable in the community.

In Palmerstown, the Order of Malta-Palmerstown Unit put their community support plan into action. Their premises on Manor Road remained open during the storm for those in need.

One of the biggest concerns during the snowstorm was the risk it posed to the lives of the homeless. Cherry Orchard FC provided an emergency overnight shelter for those in need of a roof over their heads. 

The Peter McVerry Trust had 106 beds allocated at their Extreme Cold Weather Service in their South Dublin inner city sports centre on February 28. However, 30 people refused beds on one of the coldest nights of the storm.

“The Housing First Street Intake Team managed to encourage a number of people sleeping rough to come in off the streets,” the charity said in a statement.

“However, 16 people in the city centre and 14 in the Dublin region were engaged and supported but declined to come into the emergency shelter.”

The DSPCA warned pet owners to care for their animals in the cold weather, advising to keep all dogs indoors. Tallaght residents were outraged after a dog was found lying dead in the snow, according to Dublin Live.

Meanwhile, My Lovely Horse Rescue travelled across South Dublin to deliver hay to horses in the area. They braced the cold to deliver supplies in Bluebell, Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Rathfarnham. 

The owner of Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Eithne Fitzpatrick, praised her team as they took up residence at the hotel to ensure it remained open for business.

Staff across the hotel stayed at the castle in order to welcome guests and maintain facilities.

Ms Fitzpatrick said: “We had guests staying and it was vital for us to maintain a full service. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their support.” 

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which represents Tallaght Hospital, St James’s Hospital, St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, among others, said they had cancelled electives and outpatient appointments last week.

“Hospitals will be in touch with patients to reschedule the appointments as soon as possible,” they stated.

 “Emergency services and all essential planned services for cancer, renal and antenatal care are continuing and staff have been presenting to work to care for patients despite the extraordinary conditions.”

 The hospital group also acknowledged the support of the Defence Forces and Civil Defence in assisting with emergency transportation of patients and staff when requested.

However, there was local anger after a series of incidents in Tallaght that included the burning out of a number of cars.

Cllr Charlie O’Connor (FF) said that the incidents which took place in the Dublin South West area were not indicative of the good people of Tallaght and must be condemned.

Gardai have launched an investigation in relation to criminal damage to several vehicles that had been abandoned by their owners at the height of the storm.

According to one report, locals witnessed a gang of people drive the cars through the snow before lighting them on fire and fleeing the scene.

“This mindless criminality were the actions of a group but what is most important to recognise in the face of such crime, is the response from our community in the hours that followed,” Cllr O’Connor said.

“Whether it was families bringing tea to gardaí on patrol for the remainder of the night or young people calling in on fearful elderly neighbours who live alone, let there be no doubt that this behaviour is not indicative of the honourable, hard working people I know living in our area.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection advised that a Jobs Week Careers & Education Fair scheduled to take place at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, March 6, has been postponed.

It will be rescheduled for a later date.