Army Help Snowed In Communities, Ireland 1982

Many rural communities have been cut off by snow drifts and have required the assistance of the Air Corps. Could action have been taken sooner?
Isolated communities are snowed in for a fourth day in a row. In Blessington in County Wicklow the Gardaí called in the army helicopters to deliver food parcels to cut off areas. Supplies of dried milk, tea and sugar were dropped to the villages of Lacken, Kippure and Ballyknockan.
Reporter Olivia O’Leary was in Ballyknockan, a village of about 200 people, where she spoke to locals who have been snowed in for a few days to find out how they have been coping. They discuss the lack of support they have received from the county council and the restricted access to services.
Reporter Joe Little travels with the Air Corps to the ESB power station at Turlough Hill where they will assist to survey freezing pipes in the upper lake. They also deliver supplies and medical services to rural locations where residents have been completely isolated.
A pilot tells ‘Today Tonight’ about the work of this unit of the Air Corps which has been in existence since the introduction of the helicopter in 1963.
It’s probably the first time that most people realise that there is an Air Corps.
An Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald comments on the ongoing efforts by the army and the powers of the local authorities to clear the snow and get supplies to those in need.
We’re not obviously geared to clear things over night.
Minister for Defence James Tully commends the efforts of the Irish Army and the Civil Defence and says it is impossible to give an estimate of the cost of the emergency at this stage.
A ‘Today Tonight’ report broadcast on 11 January 1982. The reporters are Olivia O’Leary and Joe Little.

[@ahlads]

I was one of the recipients of one of these helicopter deliveries in 1982. I grew up in the Wicklow mountains and this year in particular was pretty bad in terms of the amount of snow that fell. We were completely cut off for a number of days and were without electricity at times (in those days electricity would be gone a few times a year for at least a few hours at a time). Luckily we had a diesel generator which managed to give us some electricity and 'keep the lights on' as it were. Also remember 1985 being a bad year for snow although not quote as bad as '82. Of course we were more excited to get some days off school and stuff empty fertiliser bags with hay (straw) and slide down the hill side all day.

[@allstairs8726]

Thanks for putting up this video, I remember having the week off from school then 😅

[@dechannigan2980]

The lovely Olivia O Leary

[@inspectec]

Two things stick out. 1. Kids swarming around the camera and interviews, must have been so exciting in a pre PlayStation time. 2. Taoiseach says we must learn from our mistakes. Think they still use that phrase on a yearly basis

[@johnorourke2279]

Two things also sticking out were the hooters on the first two people interviewed 😉

[@mariekatherine5238]

1982 was a very cold, snowy winter in the USA, as well.

[@SmilerORocker]

I've watched a few of your videos today. I was one of the girls in the "missing bus" from Dundalk to Ardee, I'd be interested to see if there's any clips mentioning us (I haven't found any yet though) 🤔 Fun reminder 👍😁

[@patrickball2493]

The army did the hardest work ever in the recorded history of the state during that period of snow in 82 .

[@jerrynoonan1686]

And most certainly the Air corps was a young apprentice in the air corps back in 82

[@martinwalsh3228]

(1981-1982) was a cold winter.

[@kjmack1000]

how did the reporter get there if they are iso;ated

[@Paulco67]

She was on the chopper

[@jimmymcjimmyvich9052]

Two reporters in the chopper could have got out and let the poor auld lad get to the hospital.

[@peterquinlan9789]

Was this the year that the Canadian government donated snowmobiles to Ireland?

[@jerrynoonan1686]

Yes

[@philiploveswatcheswhiskies9832]

Thank God for Guinness Taytos and Rashers😅

[@JDLeonard74]

It's wonderful when the people in an area aren't taught to fear National Guards and such. It's can be a beautiful miracle! In my opinion. Anything else I might say would just be preaching to the choir. Especially to you C.R. and all the folks from Ireland and such. Who have no doubt seen even more troublesome operations of peace keeping.

[@johntheball]

There is no fear in Ireland of the army, police, or any govt department ..we have a decent and pretty repectable democracy here ...and we dont have well funded partisan media spinning us devisive lies 24/ 7 like Fox in the states....

[@Lar308]

Nowadays there would be no problem as all those people living there now are driving Audi Q7 / Q8's or BMW X5's or X7's.

[@noelmaher4633]

All dressed locally before Kildare Village and TK Maxx arrivals, hardy frs..Maybe first introduction of an Architect on RTE, also with opinion and notions..😉

[@MrSheymie]

Feckn Charlie Haughey... 08:48

[@Madradubh8]

Not sure if you're joking but that's Fitzgerald!

[@MrSheymie]

@@Madradubh8 😄

[@user-bk2yi5jx2o]

Avalanche of Gimme-grants now thanks to global warming

[@phototac9287]

They couldn't respond with the proper equipment because Charlie spent all the money 😂 on his island and his big yacht ⛵.

[@ciaran5588]

Garrett Fitzgerald AKA The Minister For Hardship