Storm Boelo: Wedding guests stranded on island
Wedding guests on a Lower Lough Erne island in County Fermanagh were stranded after their ferry took on water during Storm Boelo.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Wedding guests stranded on Lower Lough Erne island after ferry takes on water
- Storm Boelo brings near-80mph gusts, cancellations, and fallen trees
- Met Office issues continuous wind warnings across Northern Ireland and coasts
- Power successfully restored to all properties across Northern Ireland
Wedding guests attending a celebration on an island in Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, found themselves stranded after the ferry took on water amid severe conditions brought by Storm Boelo. Over the weekend, the storm unleashed wind gusts reaching nearly 80mph in several areas, triggering the cancellation of numerous flights and ferry services across the region.
An attendee described how the waves were extremely rough and the wind was fierce, forcing some people to sleep inside cars, others on sofas, and as many as eight individuals to share a single room sleeping on the floor. A boat was subsequently deployed to evacuate guests off the island, while staff at Lusty Beg Island Resort & Spa stepped in to look after those unable to leave.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Michael Cadden, managing director at the hotel, expressed his delight at how both staff and customers handled the situation, noting that the sheer ferocity and longevity of the storm were unlike anything previously experienced on the island. Meanwhile, Kacper Dymarczyk, a bartender locked down with the guests, laughed as he recounted that it was great fun watching other people drinking during the ordeal.
"The ferocity and the longevity of this storm was unlike anything we've experienced on the island before."
Michael Cadden
Olivia Millar, a London-based cabin crew member attending the wedding as a guest, mentioned that her original itinerary was to be in South Africa by Monday night. According to Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE), approximately 12,500 properties lost power at the peak of Storm Boelo, though electricity has now been successfully restored to all properties throughout Northern Ireland, with overnight faults deemed unrelated to the storm.
Storm Boelo highlights the inherent vulnerability of island and coastal infrastructure when confronted with extreme weather events. Sustained 80mph gusts immediately disrupt maritime and air transport, emphasizing that local crisis management—such as resort-led accommodations for stranded visitors and rapid utility restoration—remains critical in mitigating widespread disruption.
Across the border in the Republic of Ireland, an ESB spokesperson stated that a number of homes, farms, and businesses remained without electricity on Monday morning, down from approximately 5,000 properties still experiencing outages on Sunday evening. The Met Office has also issued wind and rain warnings for counties along the southern and western coasts for Monday evening, with calmer and sunnier weather forecasted by Wednesday.
Transportation networks also suffered significant disruptions, with flights cancelled at airports across the island, including around 40 flights at Belfast International Airport and about 30 at Dublin Airport. Translink reported that several bus services were diverted due to debris, and rail restrictions were implemented in affected zones following approximately 470 reported incidents of fallen trees and flooding.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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