Blizzards wreak havoc

Artic-like conditions caused chaos on many areas throughout north Antrim last week as blizzards, wind and heavy rain battered Ballymoney and Moyle.

Scores of homes across north Antrim were left without power and water - some for several days - as temperatures plummeted to freezing.

Many vulnerable people were trapped in their homes while others were cut off by blocked roads due to ice, snow and fallen trees and branches.

Among the worst hit areas were Loughgiel, Cloughmills, Carey, Armoy and the Glens.

Indeed in Loughgiel locals said telegraph poles were snapped "like matchsticks".

Cllr Connolly (left) - who lives on the Glenbush Road - was one of those left without power, his supplies cutting out at 7pm on Tuesday evening.

When the Times spoke to him on Thursday afternoon he was still without power and his water had been off since the previous day.

"According to NIE it could be days before we are back on," the SDLP man said.

"We seem to have got the worst of it in a lot of ways.

"The poor farmers lost a lot of lambs, it is a terrible tragedy.

"I haven't seen the likes of it since 1947.

"It is unbelievable how the electricity poles were pulled down

"It is a terrible situation but what can you do?"

Cara McShane - Chairperson of Moyle District Council - said she was grateful no-one was injured or killed as a result of the horrific conditions.

She said while outlying areas of Ballycastle had been affected, the electricity supply in the town centre appeared to have remained intact despite the storms.

"People having to run businesses will have lost money due to the weather but more important is the huge impact of losing your electricity on those with poor health," she said.

"Thankfully there have been no reports of injuries or serious accidents."

Cllr McShane praised local people for rallying round throughout the crisis.

"Certainly that is within our nature when you live in rural areas to help out your neighbours," she added.

Ballymoney Mayor, Councillor Frank Campbell, said he had seldom witnessed such impact from Tuesday night's snow and wind.

Councillor Campbell was an ever present figure at the Millennium Centre in Loughgiel and the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre where the premises provided hot food and washing up facilities for those worst affected.

Cllr. Campbell praised the efforts of all council and volunteer staff.

Businesses also felt the effects, many without water due to power failures at pumping stations. Worst affected were cafes and restaurants.

The large snowfall also caused flooding throughout both areas. Marine Corner in Ballycastle was under several inches of water while the nearby tennis courts became an impromptu lake.

In Ballymoney Riverside Park rose several feet and the Bravallen River threatened to overflow its banks, evoking memories of the widespread flooding in that area of the town last year.

Among the victims of the weather were newborn lambs. In one case almost 30 perished on one farm.

Ian Gregg of the Ulster Farmers Union, said: "There are newborn lambs on a lot of farms around the country.

"Some are only two, three or four days old so they have been getting it quite tough.

"There were farmers out on Tuesday who were soaked to the skin trying to get animals in."

Ian said some farmers who had sewn crops early may also be hit in the pocket due to waterlogged fields.

Power cuts at feeding mills would also have a detrimental effect, he said, particularly with the Easter holidays when farmers traditionally stock pile food for the animals.

"The difficulties faced by farmers are going to be exacerbated by the weather at the minute," he added.

The Post Office in Ballymoney was heaving last Thursday as people from outlying areas descended on the town to draw benefits due to problems at rural Post Offices.

Up to 100,000 people across Northern Ireland were affected by power cuts on Tuesday and Wednesday with hundreds of faults still waiting to be fixed.

About 25,000 homes remained without power on Thursday.

Northern Ireland Electricity said engineers managed to restore power to 5,000 homes on Wednesday night.

Such was the pressure on resources, over 120 additional engineers and linesmen were drafted in to the province from the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain on Thursday morning.

The Loughgiel and Cloughmills areas were understood to have had power restored on Sunday night bringing much needed relief to countless families some of whom had been forced to cook on an open fire.

One woman told the Times: "I just couldn't afford to eat out from a chippy every night. I had to improvise, but you do what you have to do in the circumstances.

"There's plenty worse off. At least we had food."