Ireland

People in Kerry had to melt snow to get water supplies amid cold snap

Four families with young children move with help of Kerry Mountain Rescue after being completely cut off without water or electricity for days

The main Killarney to Kenmare road over Moll's Gap was closed due to the conditions. Photograph: Don MacMonagle
The main Killarney to Kenmare road over Moll's Gap was closed due to the conditions. Photograph: Don MacMonagle
Anne Lucey
Tue Jan 07 2025 - 18:08

People in Kerry have had to melt snow to get water supplies as the severe cold snap continues.

Several homes in the Cordal-Ballydesmond, Brosna and Knocknagoshel areas have been without power and water for four days.

People were in a bad way but were trying to make the best of the circumstances and working to keep their spirits up, Independent Castleisland councillor Charlie Farrelly said.

One woman in Glounthane told him how she had collected snow and boiled it on the gas cooker in order to get water.

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“She has supplies in and told me she is okay, and the melted snow water has put a shine in her hair,” said Mr Farrelly, who was shopping in Aldi in Castleisland on Tuesday for a number of people who have no means of transport amid the snow.

Meanwhile, Kerry Mountain Rescue came to the aid of families in Glounthane, Cordal, located 900ft above sea level, on Monday. Four families with young children were removed with the help of Kerry Mountain Rescue after being cut off without water or electricity at their accommodation since Saturday.

Milltown, Co Kerry-based Noel Murphy, a farmer and chair of the dairy council of the ICMSA, said he had never seen snow as high – up to seven inches – in his area, which is low-lying, and while bigger roads were being treated, snow levels on many small roads had made them impassible.

[ Ireland weather: Status orange warnings issued ahead of extreme cold that could be ‘dangerous to life’ ]

Some funerals in Kerry have been delayed and requiem Masses postponed by several days because of the cold spell.

In some cases bereaved families have not been able to leave their homes, with the deceased having to lie in repose in private because of safety concerns. Many priests have also been unable to travel.

A funeral Mass for a person who died on January 1st, scheduled to take place in Kilflynn on Tuesday 7th, could not take place as the parish priest was unable to travel due to the snow. The Mass is being rescheduled.

Similar delays are taking place across Kerry, with many burials postponed due to icy conditions. Friday is expected to see a number of delayed funeral Masses going ahead. .

Gleasure Funeral Homes, which operates in Tralee and Listowel, is among the businesses affected. Funeral director Seán Gleasure said the delays are “100 per cent because of the weather”.

Funerals have already “backed up” in many parts of Kerry, he said.

In some cases, families of the deceased have postponed services because of concerns about elderly people slipping while trying to get to removals.

While main roads are treated, roads in housing estates in urban areas such as Tralee have not been gritted, Mr Gleasure said. Rural roads are also left untreated.

There are safety issues too around digging of graves in frozen soil, he said, while many cemeteries are located on untreated minor rural roads.

“People are understanding and have no problem with the delays,” the funeral director said. It is hoped to get funerals back to normal at the weekend, beginning on Friday, he added.