Power outage in Cookstown forces Luas service off track
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THOUSANDS of Clondalkin and Belgard residents were left without power for up to an hour on Sunday evening – and part of the Red Line Luas had to be suspended – as a result of a power outage at an ESB substation in Cookstown.
A Luas spokesperson told The Echo that the Luas did not run for a number of hours between the Red Cow and Tallaght and Belgard and Saggart on Sunday evening because of the outage.
The Luas was down for a number of hours on Sunday evening
Residential areas were also affected, including Belgard, Clondalkin Village and Boot Road, where almost 3,000 residents were left without power from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
However, according to Fianna Fáil councillor Trevor Gilligan, this is the second time there has been a power outage in the Clondalkin area in the past fortnight, and he said that issues with electricity supply in the area have been simmering for several years.
Cllr Gilligan said: “The power outages are becoming more and more a part of life here. I’d be lying if I said they weren’t.
“[The outage on Sunday] is just the latest incident in the ongoing saga.
“A few days beforehand, the power went out again for two hours. This is on top of numerous occurrences last year.
ESB substation in Cookstown Industrial Estate
“It is becoming standard at this stage. It is not uncommon to see traffic lights out at major junctions. Last year, Lidl and Circle K had to close their doors as the electricity went down.”
There have been persistent issues with traffic lights being out at Newlands Cross, and the junction at the Nangor Road and the Ninth Lock Road, according to Cllr Gilligan.
“Those traffic lights are out a lot,” he told The Echo, “so it’s almost like you’re taking your life in your own hands because you and other motorists have to decide who can go.”
The issues with power outages go back as far as 2018, when there were three outages between Christmas 2018 and April 2019 in Clondalkin, and Cllr Gilligan said residents are getting “more and more frustrated” about it.
“We are more and more dependent on electricity for food, energy, communications and so on,” he said.
“It is especially difficult for families with young children. The minister should look to making special arrangements for people without electricity to travel to a relative if this issue persists.
“I fear this is not the last we’ll hear of this episode. ESB must outline long term solutions they can provide. I fear it is not a matter of if, but when this happens again.”
An ESB spokesperson was contacted for comment, but a response was not received in time for print.
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