Storm Éowyn Chaos: ESB Networks Battles Unprecedented Power Outages in Ireland

ESB Networks, Ireland's primary electricity distributor, is in the midst of an unprecedented recovery effort following Storm Éowyn, which struck on January 24, 2026, leaving 768,000 customers without power—the worst storm in the company's history in terms of scale and damage.[2][3]

By 5:25 PM on Sunday, January 26, ESB Networks had restored electricity to 490,000 homes, farms, and businesses, with 278,000 still affected. Earlier updates at noon that day reported 438,000 restorations, leaving 330,000 without supply.[2][3] The storm caused widespread infrastructure damage, exacerbated by subsequent Storm Herminia, which hampered repair efforts despite not causing major new issues.[3]

Estimated restoration times are now available on www.PowerCheck.ie, providing customers with the most accurate updates based on on-site assessments. ESB anticipates restoring power to the vast majority by Friday, January 31, with up to 100,000 customers potentially waiting into the following week.[2][3]

To accelerate recovery, ESB is receiving support from Great Britain and has requested aid from European network operators. Internal resources are also mobilized, including redeployed crews from less-affected areas like the south and east, and skilled retirees.[2][3]

This crisis coincides with positive developments in Ireland's energy sector. ESB Networks recently announced that the national grid now exceeds 1GW of energy storage capacity, including 731.5MW from battery systems and 292MW from the 50-year-old Turlough Hill pumped storage station. This milestone supports Ireland's booming electricity demand, projected to grow 7% annually, driven by data centers consuming 5.3TWh in 2022.[1]

Upcoming projects like a 20MW, 4-hour battery storage system at Statkraft’s Cushaling wind farm in County Offaly, set for completion by end-2024, highlight Ireland's push toward long-duration storage.[1]

While 'ESB' trends partly due to Indian contexts like MP ESB exam calendars and police results, the dominant global buzz stems from this Irish power crisis, underscoring the vulnerability of energy infrastructure to extreme weather.[4][5][7]