Louth internet outage: Thousands left in dark for days as card machines fail
He said that a 'major fault' had impacted customers in Castlebellingham, Annagassan, Dromin, Mooretown and surrounding areas for almost a week, resulting in mayhem in local shops and hospitality establishments as card machines wouldn't work.
'The internet went down on Sunday June 15 for some people and then others began reporting lack of service in the days following. Getting information on what was happening proved very difficult and that is something that needs to be addressed with large service providers, ' he said, adding that ' in this case it was Eir.'
'Our lives now are dependent on decent broadband and internet especially for businesses and those who work from home.'
He told how payment card machines wouldn't work, 'causing mayhem in shops and hospitality establishments' and 'making a farce of attempts for a cashless society. '
Those with digital televisions reliant on decent broadband to stream programmes were also affected.
'We are reliant on internet for communication in almost everything we do,' he said, describing how a local school was unable to make or receive phone calls.
He was also aware of a student who had to do exams online and was stressed that the service wouldn't be restored in time for him to do them as there was no information coming from Eir.
'Faults can happen and in fairness Eir was in the area working on it within a very short time but thousands of their customers were left in the dark as to what the problem was and more importantly, when it would be fixed. That lack of certainty can cause disruption in people's lives and their businesses; that lack of communication can cause frustration in customers.'
'It was hard to get any information and Eir had nothing on its website or social media accounts acknowledging there was a fault or that it was being addressed,' he continued. 'The last item on their X and Facebook accounts was a slogan saying 'connection is everything' and their @Eircare page hadn't been updated since Christmas. Eir and big companies like this need to do better when it comes to communicating with their customer base,' he said.
'The fault was caused by a third party and Eir required a licence to dig up the road where the fibre break was located. I am hearing that service has been restored to most customers today (Friday 20) which will be a huge relief to all those affected but a bit of communication would have eased a lot of the frustration.'
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Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Louth internet outage: Thousands left in dark for days as card machines fail
He said that a 'major fault' had impacted customers in Castlebellingham, Annagassan, Dromin, Mooretown and surrounding areas for almost a week, resulting in mayhem in local shops and hospitality establishments as card machines wouldn't work. 'The internet went down on Sunday June 15 for some people and then others began reporting lack of service in the days following. Getting information on what was happening proved very difficult and that is something that needs to be addressed with large service providers, ' he said, adding that ' in this case it was Eir.' 'Our lives now are dependent on decent broadband and internet especially for businesses and those who work from home.' He told how payment card machines wouldn't work, 'causing mayhem in shops and hospitality establishments' and 'making a farce of attempts for a cashless society. ' Those with digital televisions reliant on decent broadband to stream programmes were also affected. 'We are reliant on internet for communication in almost everything we do,' he said, describing how a local school was unable to make or receive phone calls. He was also aware of a student who had to do exams online and was stressed that the service wouldn't be restored in time for him to do them as there was no information coming from Eir. 'Faults can happen and in fairness Eir was in the area working on it within a very short time but thousands of their customers were left in the dark as to what the problem was and more importantly, when it would be fixed. That lack of certainty can cause disruption in people's lives and their businesses; that lack of communication can cause frustration in customers.' 'It was hard to get any information and Eir had nothing on its website or social media accounts acknowledging there was a fault or that it was being addressed,' he continued. 'The last item on their X and Facebook accounts was a slogan saying 'connection is everything' and their @Eircare page hadn't been updated since Christmas. Eir and big companies like this need to do better when it comes to communicating with their customer base,' he said. 'The fault was caused by a third party and Eir required a licence to dig up the road where the fibre break was located. I am hearing that service has been restored to most customers today (Friday 20) which will be a huge relief to all those affected but a bit of communication would have eased a lot of the frustration.'
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Shoppers are racing to nab ‘best sun cream ever' that's now FREE – it's ‘great for school days' & takes seconds to apply
WITH temperatures continuing to soar, if you're in search of sun cream that's great for little ones, you've come to the right place. And if your purse is feeling the pinch more than ever before, fear not, as now, the 'best sun cream ever' is totally free - yes, you heard that correctly. 4 Shoppers are racing to get to their nearest Boots store, eager to get their hands on the 'best sun cream ever' that's now totally free Credit: Alamy 4 Not only this, but it's perfect for school days and holidays too Credit: Alamy 4 Carrie Webster took to social media to alert others to the deal, leaving many gobsmacked Credit: ExtremeCouponingAndBargainsUK 4 With this deal, you'll get a bottle of the Soltan Kids Once 8hr Protect & Play Suncare Lotion SPF50+ 200ml for free Credit: ExtremeCouponingAndBargainsUK But you'll need to move quickly if you want to nab this epic freebie, as it's only available whilst stocks last. One savvy shopper was left beaming after browsing the shelves in her local Boots store, when she noticed the brilliant summer deal. Thrilled with her freebie, Carrie Webster took to social media to alert others, leaving many totally stunned. Posting on Read more Fabulous stories Alongside the post, Carrie beamed: 'Bargain in 'Buy two Soltan [bottles and] get the 8hr protect one for free!' While Boots Advantage card members will normally pay £4.95 a bottle for the Soltan Kids Once 8hr Protect & Play Suncare Lotion SPF50+ 200ml, with this limited-time cracking offer, Clearly overjoyed with her freebie which she nabbed from her local store in Gravesend, Carrie then added: 'The 8hr protect one is great for school days!' Most read in Fabulous According to the product listing, this 'advanced sun protection' product has 'UVA and UVB filters to help protect skin against short and long term skin damage and premature skin ageing.' It takes just seconds to apply and has been hailed as 'perfect for outdoor adventures and on holiday." Kelsey Parker mum-shamed for admitting she doesn't put suncream on her kids The Boots buy is said to deliver 'eight hours of sun protection from a single application,' provided you follow the instructions. For best protection, generously apply the It is "water resistant, dermatologically tested and vegan-friendly". But parents should note that you should reapply if more time is spent in the water. Not only this, but it's also suitable for Best sun cream ever Facebook user Alongside this, Carrie also bought two bottles of Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion, in factors 30 and 50+. This jaw-dropping offer is subject to stock availability, with your free gift being added to your basket on qualifying purchases while stocks last. Bargain hunters beam Facebook users were left beaming with the freebie, as one person said: 'Need to get these.' Whilst another added: 'I got this offer today, definitely a Meanwhile, other One user simply beamed: 'Best sun cream ever.' The importance of sun cream in your skincare routine Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez - known as Dr Dray - revealed why you should wear suncream. The one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference - and this matters for all ages - is protecting your skin from the sun, Andrea stressed. "The vast majority of external aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation," she continued, not because you're "not using some jazzy serum or layering 90 different things on your face everyday". "If you're not doing in your 20s, get on that now." But she said the use of sun cream alone doesn't go far enough. Andrea urged that you also wear sun-protective clothing like broad-brimmed hats and long sleeves, on top of not staying out too long in the sun. Doing this over your lifetime - and all year, not just during the summer or on sunny days - "will reduce the visible signs of photoageing", Andrea said. Those are wrinkles, muddled pigmentation and sagging skin. A second chimed in and wrote: 'I use the 8 hour one for my boys for school! No issues, also used it on previous abroad holidays and they never burnt even going in the pool! I stand by this sun cream for my older kids.' Someone else claimed: 'My kids NEVER burn with any of the baby or kids Soltan sun creams!' Whilst another Boots shopper explained: 'I swear by these Soltan once ones and we holiday in summer in Egypt and Turkey and Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
My hardware shop survived two world wars, recessions & Covid – now Rachel Reeves has KO'd it after 160 years
FOR 160 years Mogford & Son has been a trusty hardware shop just like the one seen in the Two Ronnies' famous 'fork handles' sketch. But running a small independent shop has become no laughing matter for its current owner Paul Gillam. 5 After 160 years, surviving two world wars and Covid, rising costs have sounded the death knell for Mogford & Son Credit: Jon Rowley 5 A snap of W.H Mogfrod & Son taken in 1920 Credit: Jon Rowley 5 Current owner Paul Gillam has blamed rising costs, including Rachel Reeves' National Insurance hike, for having to shutter the store for good Credit: AP Because of a tsunami of rising costs, including Rachel Reeves' employer National Insurance increase, Paul, 57, has been forced to call it a day. At the end of September Mogford — one of Britain's oldest shops — will close its doors for the final time. This Aladdin's cave has survived two world wars, READ MORE UK NEWS Close to tears, Paul told The Sun: 'I'm working seven days a week but things have got more expensive. From staffing costs to National Insurance and bank charges. 'The car park up the road has started to charge £2, so people can no longer park for free, because the council is short of cash. My business rates keep going up. 'It's been a hard decision but I can't carry on.' Standing at the till, Paul is surrounded by thousands of objects for the home, from bamboo and compost to jubilee clips and, of course, candles. Most read in The Sun He has a wry smile as he poses with four candles, like shopkeeper There are house numbers, bolts, rabbit food and aquarium cleaners all stacked neatly on shelving that has carried everything the local community could want for the past century and a half. Popular bank with over 400 spots confirms it is shutting 18 branches in August – it follows 148 closures by rivals Paul's wife Babs, 55, who has been working in the shop since two staff retired recently, not to be replaced, says: 'The Government say they want to keep High Streets open but then all the banks close. "Then the car parks start charging, then the shops close. People end up going online or to one of the big retailers.' The car park up the road has started to charge £2, so people can no longer park for free, because the council is short of cash. My business rates keep going up. Paul To try to counter the online threat, Paul's shop has a Facebook page and offers a delivery service. He charges £1 for anything under £20 and free delivery on orders over 20 quid. Paul makes just £1.60 on a bag of compost and in 30 years of working at Mogford he has never increased all his prices at once to keep pace with inflation. He raises prices as little as possible and he reluctantly puts a £3 limit on the card machine because of the cost of using it. Paul would have liked his daughter Sophie and grandson James to take over but he decided they would be better off in jobs with a future . Paul remembers walking past Mogford's shop as a boy. He says: 'There was everything round here. 'Clothes shops, shoe shops, butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers. You could get every single thing you wanted.' He points across the road to the shops that have closed down — a newsagent's, a women's accessories shop and a shoe repair bar. He says: 'When Covid happened, we were considered an essential business. I will close the doors with a heavy heart Paul 'We extended our hours, opening at 6am and not closing until 9pm because our footfall went up so much with people working from home, and we wanted to help.' When The Sun visited, all morning there was a steady stream of customers coming in to buy goods from washers to dog bowls , super glue to carpet cleaner. Paul knows most of them by name and all seem upset that the shop will be gone in just ten weeks' time. They say it's the latest nail in the coffin for their High Street and they don't know what they'll do when Paul locks up for the final time. He says: 'I will close the doors with a heavy heart. 'It's not for lack of trying either but there's simply nothing I can do. I'm breaking even and have been for a while, so I've been left with no choice.' 5 Paul told The Sun: 'I'm working seven days a week but things have got more expensive. From staffing costs to National Insurance and bank charges' Credit: Jon Rowley 5 Paul knows most of the customers by name, and all seem upset that the shop will be gone in just ten weeks' time Credit: Jon Rowley
