Torrential rain has provided much-needed water for the people on Inishmaan in the Aran Islands, who earlier this week had to warn visitors not to stay overnight due to a lack of drinking water.
Heavy rain on Wednesday night helped to build up reserves of fresh water, allowing restoration of supply to homes cut off since Monday. "Since Monday, we have managed to build up a supply of about half a million gallons and the heavy rain was a big help, so we have now restored the supply to homes," Mr Pol Ó Foighil, of Comharcumann Inis Meain, which operates the private water scheme for the island, said yesterday.
Mr Ó Foighil denied that an outbreak of illness on the island was linked to low water supplies - at least 20 people became ill on Sunday and Monday.
Water shortages have been commonplace on the island for years, but a new desalination plant, which was recently opened at a cost of €2.2 million, was expected to address the problem.
Mr Ó Foighil said seaweed was causing a problem for the pumps at the plant but new measures to resolve this are expected next month.