Work undertaken by Galway County Council in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn to strengthen customer service and community support will be showcased at a national local government event.
Local government officials from across Ireland will gather at Kilkenny Castle on 1 October for the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) Customer Service Workshop 2026, where Galway County Council will present its work on the formalisation of a County-Wide Community Support Centre Network.
The initiative, which has been developed since December 2025, has put in place a more structured and coordinated approach to supporting communities during periods of significant disruption.
Storm Éowyn caused widespread disruption across Galway in January 2025, including prolonged power and communications outages. During the storm, community groups and local facilities played an important role in supporting people affected by the disruption.
The experience highlighted the value of strong community networks while also identifying the need for a more structured approach to coordinating community support during future emergencies.
Galway County Council subsequently formalised the County-Wide Community Support Centre Network, moving from an ad hoc response to a county-wide system with designated centres, agreed procedures and clear responsibilities.
The council has established an expression of interest process for community groups wishing to participate, developed standard operating procedures and put arrangements in place to link the centres into the wider emergency management response.
The initiative has also included the development of a storm resilience and household preparedness brochure in partnership with Local Development Companies (LDCs).
Galway County Council Director of Services Michael Owens said the work demonstrated the importance of building on experience to improve services.
“Storm Éowyn provided a valuable learning experience for Galway County Council and communities across the county. It demonstrated the strength of local community networks, while also highlighting the need for a clear and coordinated approach to supporting communities during major disruption.Since then, the council has worked to formalise that approach, putting structures, procedures and relationships in place that can be activated when required.”
We are pleased to have the opportunity to present this work at the NOAC Customer Service Workshop and to share our experience with colleagues from local authorities across the country.”
The project will be presented at the workshop by Galway County Council Community Development Administrative Officer Theresa Donohue.
She said the work has developed from the lessons learned during Storm Éowyn.
“The response from communities across Galway during Storm Éowyn was exceptional, with people volunteering their time and local facilities being made available to support those affected.”
“The experience also showed us the importance of having a clear framework in place so that this support can be coordinated effectively when it is needed.”
“The County-Wide Community Support Centre Network provides greater clarity for community groups and a more structured approach for the council. The work carried out since December has helped us to develop and formalise that model, and we look forward to sharing what we have learned at the national workshop.”