THE LADY Gregory Hotel is among a number of community businesses who have opened facilities to Gort and South Galway community amidst Storm Éowyn destruction.
Due to Storm Éowyns record breaking winds, properties across Gort and South Galway have been left without electricity or access to water. According to the ESB PowerCheck website these properties may be left without power until Wednesday February 5.
While ESB workers are working to bring power back to effected communities, Galway County Council have announced the establishment of over twenty Emergency Response Hubs to assist people with basic needs such as water, hot food, phone charging broadband access, shower and clothes washing facilities.
Among the locations providing essential facilities to those without power or electricity is the Lady Gregory Hotel in Gort. When the extent of the damage which left many in need of support was recognised.
Hotel owner Aileen O’Grady offered not only a warm and welcoming space to charge electrical devices and fill flasks for essential cups of tea and coffee, but also provided much needed warm overnight accommodation for those with young children, those with medical needs, and the elderly.
Aileen said, “once we got our own power back and realised the extent of the damage locally, and the timeframe that some would be without services it was a natural instinct to open our doors and offer whatever we could to help”.
The hotel is providing complimentary Tea/Coffee/Snacks, charging facilities & WiFi, toilets & shower facilities from 9am-9pm daily.
Cllr Geraldine Donohue (IND) has praised the Galway Emergency Response Hub established in partnership with local community saying; “that it is a big help to people who are doing the best under the circumstances and something as basic as a shower is very welcomed by all and is very thankful to all the community centres, hotels, pubs and restaurants etc that have opened their doors and put out the welcome mat to all. We are forever grateful.”
Other locations which will be acting as Emergency Response Hubs in the South Galway area are; Ballinderreen Community Centre, Lough Rea Hotel, Loughrea, Dessie O’Brien’s Pub Kilreekil and Craughwell Community Centre.
