Trampolines, Trees, and a Heifer Named Dara: Gef’s Best Bits From The Storm

The Isle of Man was well and truly battered by Storm Darragh over the weekend, as 80mph winds had trampolines taking unexpected flights, fences in tatters, and Bethel from Ballasalla fuming at a delay to her fruit and veg delivery.

Starting in the early hours of Saturday morning, the storm caused chaos across the island.

Over 200 trees came down, blocking more than 160 roads and areas, while the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) worked around the clock to clear the mess.

They were the real MVPs, along with farmers who somehow managed to sort out fallen trees while still organising the iconic Christmas Tractor Run.

Here’s Gef’s best bits from Storm Darragh – A tale of chaos, kindness and calves

• Ballamoar Farm Bravery
  Over at Ballamoar Farm in Patrick, the Goodwin family added a bit of cheer to the stormy drama. Braving the gale-force winds, they delivered a healthy heifer calf, fittingly named Dara. A Facebook post from Isle of Man Creamery summed it up perfectly: ‘Farm life really does stop for nothing!’ And honestly, we have no choice but to applaud our unshakeable Manx farmers.

• Brown Bobby Roof Fiasco
  In what’s becoming a storm tradition, the EVF Brown Bobby Petrol Station in Douglas got a roof makeover – courtesy of Darragh. Luckily, the ever-reliable team at SCS swooped in to sort it out, making the area safe for the public. One can only hope the Brown Bobby roof holds firm for the next storm.

• Tesco Trauma
  The island’s real storm disaster? The great supermarket shortage of 2024. Tesco shelves looked like they’d been hit by a plague of locusts. But rest assured, Bethel eventually got her fruit and veg. Crisis averted.

• Flying Cats and Calf Shenanigans
  Unconfirmed reports suggest a cat made it to the Calf of Man (it’s probably just gone feral on the windswept cliffs), while locals are still combing the fields for their missing trampolines. Fences? We hear some folks are halfway through hammering theirs back up.

• Cancelled Plans
  Storm Darragh also came for the events calendar. Santa’s on a Bike was grounded, Civic Amenity Sites were closed, and even the Wildlife Park had to take the day off. Busses? Scrapped. Steam Packet sailings? No. Flights at Ronaldsway Airport? Nope. They called it quits too.

Community Spirit FTW

Despite the chaos, the Manx community showed their resilience. The DoI, emergency services, and local contractors worked tirelessly to clear blocked roads, and their efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

With the storm behind us, it’s time to assess the real question: has everyone got their trampolines back? And more importantly, who’s naming the next calf at Ballamoar Farm?

For now, let’s raise a cuppa to the unsung heroes of Storm Darragh – the farmers, the road crews, and Bethel, for holding the fort until her veg came through. Legends, the lot of them.