Rathgormack snowed in for days after heavy snowfall in Waterford's Comeragh Mountains region

While the majority of Waterford escaped heavy snowfall this week, the Rathgormack area was hit badly and faced disruptions for many days.

In Rathgormack village on Thursday, loaders and heavy machinery were at work clearing footpaths, which were still packed with snow that had fallen on Sunday and had frozen over in subsequent days.

Local councillor in the area, Seanie Power said that the area was impacted more than neighbouring towns and villages. 

“The worst area of Waterford that was hit was towards Rathgormack and Ballymacarbry.

“It’s been very bad, especially earlier in the week, and yet when you went down the road towards Waterford there was very little ice and not a sign of snow in any of the fields."

Locals in the area were still having trouble leaving their houses on Thursday with smaller country roads and boreens still snowed in. Rathgormack National School remained closed on Thursday when the Waterford News & Star visited the village, while mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart was cancelled on Monday morning.

Parish priest, Fr PJ Fagan said that normal service has since returned, but some locals may still be unable to attend.

“We’re getting back to normal now, but if people can’t come that’s fine, they can make their own decision on that.

“The main roads are fine, the problem is that once you go off the main road and onto the byroads it can be quite treacherous. Unless you had a tractor or a four-wheel drive vehicle it has been pretty hard to get around.

“Clonea-Power also got hit bad but the Rathgormack side got it a bit harder because it's nearer the mountain and it’s that bit higher.” 

The village shop, Comeragh Stores, was also impacted by the difficult conditions.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, Abbie from the store said: “It has slowed down customers from being able to visit the shop and the kids have been off school so the shop has been a lot quieter.

“Also a lot less people are walking up and down the village past the shop, they’re afraid to because of the ice on the road. But we do have some kids coming in because they’re taking advantage of their time off from school and they want to get out into the snow.” 

Meanwhile, Waterford City and County Council’s ground staff worked hard to clear roads in the area.

The Council noted that tackling the Comeragh area was particularly difficult, and advised people travelling around Portlaw, Ballymacarbry, Rathgormack and Clonmel that some roads would become impassable.

Cllr Power commended council staff for their work in the area, saying: “I’d like to give praise to the staff on the ground because they did keep the roads clear.

“The council were out clearing pathways and salting. The snow plough was also out clearing the roads, trying to get everyone back going, and they were prioritizing roads where people had an illness or needed to get to hospital.

“The staff were out and about doing their best, and I think people in the area had great patience too because there’s only so much that can be done and on the country roads it’s very difficult."

The community itself have also been working to ensure things get back to normality.

“There were farmers out with their tractors and loaders clearing the snow out around Rathgormack all week,” Cllr Power said.

“A lot of the farmers in the area that are milking would have cleared the roads themselves and done a bit of work in the area, because it would have been impossible for the milk lorries to get in otherwise.

“In regards to farming, we still had to get out and about. Trying to get animals fed would be a bit more difficult for people but with good machinery and tractors now it kept people going.

“People in general are very good and neighbours have been helping one another and calling to the elderly in the area."

Read more about snow in the Comeraghs and view stunning photos here.