A pensioner whose house had its roof blown off during Storm Éowyn says the property is in a “much worse” state, having been abandoned for most of the year. 

Galway woman Maureen Folan went viral in the aftermath of the storm after she revealed that Éowyn had left her homeless. 

Nine months on, Ms Folan is now renting a property close to her Carna house - but longs to return to own home. 

 “The roof was taken out,” she described to Lunchtime Live. 

“Everything in the attic was blown away into a lake some 100 yards away. 

“Everything actually was ruined inside of the house.” 

Maureen Folan's home in Carna, Galway. Picture by: Crowdfunder.

Ms Folan said she was “very seriously affected” by Éowyn and that it is “very upsetting the longer it goes on and nothing happening”. 

“Five weeks ago, I had a private meeting with the Minister Dara Calleary,” she added. 

“I’m just hoping that in the next four to five weeks, there’ll be something happening, that they might be able to start and do something. 

“My local TD John Connolly, he’s so helpful in every way; he’s been helping me all along. 

“But everything is still the same, there’s no change.” 

A crowdfunder to help Ms Folan has so far raised more than €100,000. 

Not a one off

Earlier today, climate experts warned that Ireland may need an ‘Extreme Weather Assistance Scheme’ to help people impacted by future winter storms. 

In its annual review, the Climate Change Advisory Council urged the Government to address how it responded to extreme weather events, suggesting a review of the response into Storm Éowyn.