An elderly farmer from Co. Galway was rushed to Portiuncula University Hospital on Thursday evening (February 6), after being left without heat or power in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

Joe Sheridan, a former Fianna Fáil councillor for Tuam, Co. Galway, said that the farmer had underlying health conditions, and lived in a house that was heated by a small fire.

The farmer was found by one of his friends, a retired man who was helping him on his farm.

Sheridan told Agriland that the farmer is "back talking" this morning (February 7), but is still in hospital.

“We’re finding that older men living in isolated areas that are farming by themselves are more vulnerable than their women counterparts in the rural, isolated parts of Galway," he said.

According to Sheridan, "we were caught on the hop, nationally, regionally, and locally" by the storm.

"We’re running a hot food service since yesterday, free-of-charge. The grid is very vulnerable where we are. That was exposed in the aftermath of the storm," he said.

Sheridan said the farmer's story isn't an isolated case, and that elderly farmers are more vulnerable without power and heat.

He also told Agriland about a 90-year-old farmer without power, who was on the verge of being brought to hospital. Fortunately, the farmer had neighbours looking after him, and his power was restored before his condition deteriorated.

"If you’re 90 you can’t operate a generator, you can’t pick up a jerry can with 22kg-weight. Gas fires are an issue, a lot of them have impairment with sight, they’d burn themselves. They’re the practicalities," he said.

"Older men are more vulnerable in this situation. By pride, and by age, and by society, older men tend to cocoon more in their homes rather than seeking help and assistance," Sheridan concluded.