Unacceptable: Longford business frustrated by inability to access broadband in wake of Storm Éowyn

In Newtowncashel, more than two weeks after Storm Éowyn descended upon the county people are still struggling with the damage left in her wake. Parts of the area are waiting for their broadband to return.

Francis Killian, of Killian Engineering, is a business owner in the area struggling with the lack of internet connection.

“We have machines that won’t run without broadband. We have software that won’t operate without broadband so we cannot do work in the yard,” Francis told the ‘Longford Leader’.

Businesses and homes just a mile away from Francis have broadband.

“The broadband is working at the school and I’m a mile down the road from the school.

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“I’m just after getting off the phone with Éir,” he explained, “February 25 is the date it will be back.” That’s another two weeks.

“I’m ringing every day, and today is the first day I’ve gotten a date,” he says. His frustration is clear, “It was the fourth of February before I managed to lodge a complaint.

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“We can’t even open an email. There are no men on the ground.”

Francis is becoming increasingly frustrated with the customer service he has experienced from Éir.

“It’s nonexistent, I was talking to someone and he couldn't even tell me when it was reported.”

Councillor Martin Skelly is from Newtowncashel and he expressed unhappiness over the situation.

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“I think after two and a half weeks, in this day and age it’s just unacceptable,” he said.

“There are industries and people that work from home and that have been without internet for too long now.

“Everybody is accepting that things are not resolved over night, we all know the extent of the storm but two and a half weeks on is unacceptable.”

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