People in Galway have been told not to consume water from certain areas
13:26, 12 Jul 2026Updated 08:49, 13 Jul 2026
A thermometer against a blue sky(Image: Getty)
Met Eireann has issued a brand new status yellow heat warning, as this latest heatwave continues to dominate.
The warning comes into effect on Monday afternoon at 1pm and will last until at least 7am on Wednesday.
Met Eireann are warning that temperatures in excess of 27 degrees and overnight heat no lower than 15C are forecast.
The five counties included in this new warning are Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.
Potential Impacts:
Water safety issues due to increased use of lakes, beaches and waterwaysUncomfortable sleeping conditionsHeat stressForest firesDrought
This warning comes just as Galway County Council issued a warning to communities in Galway not to use water unless it’s for flushing the toilet.
This contamination is likely to have come from the fire in Recess on Thursday, July 9, which gutted the popular Joyce’s gift shop.
The ” Do Not Use Water ” notice applies to all consumers who extract water from 4 watercourses in Galway.
They are Glendollagh Lake, Derryclare Lough, Ballynahinch Lake or Owenmore River. This is due to a chemical contamination on July 9, which may have impacted local “water courses and drinking water extraction points” a Galway County Council spokesperson said.
The third heatwave in as little as two months has seen Irish Water plead with the community to lower water consumption, while the status yellow heat warning was extended into next week.
Temperatures on Sunday look set to pierce 30C in parts of the country, with the mercury at night not dropping below 15 degrees, making a good night sleep a challenge for many.
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