TREE surgeons have been working around the clock responding to call outs across Donegal as a result of the recent storms.
The clean-up in the wake of Storm Franklin was continuing yesterday as teams worked alongside ESB crews and Donegal County Council to clear roads of fallen trees and debris.
One local company – MG Tree Services, based in Letterkenny – said it had dealt with dozens of damaged trees and was battling to meet the demand for its services.
Oisin Crawford, co-owner, said his team had worked ‘around the clock’ over the past week to deal with incidents, adding the company was struggling to get everything done.
The company has been called out to remove a number of trees which had taken out electricity lines this week. Other incidents included homes being hit by trees and trees blocking some minor roads.
Crews were ready from 5am on Monday morning waiting for the wind to calm down before going out.
“I’ve not seen anything like the wind these past few days. There have been trees down across property, roads, ESB lines, phone lines – everywhere.
“We had a crew out with the ESB all day yesterday while another crew was working with the Council,” he said.
“We’ve done a total of around 50 trees so far, our phone hasn’t stopped all morning. It didn’t really matter what type of tree it was yesterday – eucalyptus, ash, fir or spruce – they all came down although a lot of them have been relatively small trees.
“With the wind as it is at the moment, and another storm due later in the week, I don’t think it’s going to get any easier.”
Mr Crawford believes it will take until the end of the week to respond to all the incidents, and the company is making extra crews available.
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