Island lacks phone line 9 weeks on from storms
ISLANDERS off Cork’s coast have been without a phone line since before last Christmas when lightning storms tore down communications.
Residents on Cape Clear in the North Atlantic Ocean claimed that they have been without phone services for nine weeks.
Some said they will “close their bank account immediately” if they are charged for the out-ofservice billing period.
Company engineers from Eir are due to visit the west Cork island this month while families and businesses remain cut off.
Resident
Island resident Micheal Cadogan yesterday complained that homeowners, B&B operators and others still do not have a landline.
He said: “Some have had no landlines since November 25. It’s ridiculous that it’s taken this length of time.”
Micheal told Patricia Messinger on C103’s Cork Today Show: “That’s nine weeks now and it still has not been fixed.
“The ESB had operations done in 48 hours. Some B&Bs are still out.
“People are ringing us [on mobile phones] and asking, ‘Why aren’t you answering your phone?’”
Micheal added: “A severe flash of lightning did a lot of damage to the Eir equipment and the ESB.”
Eir has vowed to have it restored as soon as possible.
Lightning
An Eir spokesperson said: “Lightning and storms caused damage to the Eir network, resulting in service outages for some customers in the west Cork area.
“Our repair teams are working on these faults as a matter of urgency. We apologise to our customers for this inconvenience.”
Cape Clear is Cork’s biggest island community with 150 year-round residents.