Longford residents travel far and wide to get water from the Well

What's being described as one of the worst storms the country has ever seen has ripped powerlines apart and stopped the flow of water into many homes across Longford and the rest of the country.

A water tanker has been in place just beside St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford and it has seen people from across the county flocking to fetch water just so they can flush their toilet or wash.

Other alternative water supplies were set up in Tesco car park in Longford Town, the library car park in Edgeworthstown, the mart in Ballymahon, the Village car park in Aughnacliffe, the car park behind Granard Garda Station, and the car park beside the bridge in Lanesboro from noon on Monday.

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There were many seeking water throughout Monday afternoon outside St Mel’s Cathedral and some of them spoke to the

'Longford Leader' about how they were managing these past number of days without power and water.

“I live in the countryside in Ballymahon and there was nothing, no water, now I have electricity from a generator but still no water,” explained Piotr Pietrzyk who had travelled into town to fill up a drum of water.

Another man, Gary Murphy, who is living in Ballinalee but is originally from Dublin says he has no electricity or water whatsoever.

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“It’s the same as everywhere, we have had no water since Friday or electricity.

“I was home last night at quarter to nine and I was sitting there waiting and hoping for a cup of tea but that’s it, unfortunately.

“Somebody told me it wouldn't be back until February 4.”

Paddy Corcoran was also out collecting water for his home near Farnham Estate. He praised all the work that was being done

by the ESB and Uisce Éireann to return the water and electricity as quickly as possible.

“I appreciate the work that’s being done by the electricians, the water people, the work is difficult given the circumstances.”

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He has seen power restored to his house but there has been no water yet.

Martin Van Zyl is in a similar situation but has not yet seen his electricity restored. Luckily he has a mostly gas-powered home.

They are however sorely missing the water supply.

“The main problem is the toilet, at some stage, you have to flush,” he remarked.

“Then the cistern upstairs ran dry and the toilets upstairs don’t work at all.

“In the middle of the night, you have to come running down the stairs so it’s not very convenient.

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“Losing power wasn’t that bad we have gas bottles, we have gas heaters, we have a gas cooker, we have gas lights so that wasn't really a problem.”

Paddy Hennessy spoke about the effects of the storm.

“I didn’t get it bad but a lot of my neighbours did. 16ft trees down on the road, wires pulled apart. A month ago they said they’d put in generators so we’d have water this time. Did they do it? no.”

Paddy (PV) Fallon, former owner of PV’s in Longford was also out collecting water, he spoke about the damage the storm inflicted on his home and his sister's next door.

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“There was a tree down in the garden and a tree next door in my sister's house.”

He has been without water and electricity since Friday much like most of the country.

It is unknown when power and water will be fully restored. Due to the incredible damage that Storm Éowyn left in his wake, it has been far more difficult for the ESB repairmen to fix