The recent widespread power outages caused by Storm Éowyn serve as a stark reminder of our growing reliance on electricity for our daily lives.
However, there are a hardy few who already live their lives "off-grid", managing to get by comfortably without relying on mains electricity or mains water.
Among them is 83-year-old Margaret Gallagher, who still resides in the thatched cottage outside Belcoo in County Fermanagh, where she was born in 1942.
Without many of the modern conveniences that people typically consider necessary.
The elderly person has endured numerous storms at Mullylusty Cottage, but confessed to being "absolutely petrified" by Éowyn.
After it was over, I was the only one capable of managing because I had a fire source, I had access to water, and I had a light source.
I have complete freedom because I'm completely disconnected from the rest of the world.
Margaret was 10 years old when her mother passed away, and following that, she took on the role of caring for her disabled father until his passing in 1980.
Their financial resources were limited, and their house had never undergone modernization.
Margaret's daily routine since childhood has included fetching buckets of drinking water from a nearby well.
Her sitting room's fireplace is her only source of heating, but she also utilizes it to cook food in cast-iron pots.
In the evenings, she uses candles and paraffin lamps for lighting and keeps herself entertained with a battery-powered radio and her collection of books.
I'm feeling very cozy and comfortable.
Margaret provided her neighbors with fresh drinking water.
She also extended a warm welcome to individuals who were without heating at their residences.
"It's wonderful to have a fire and the kettle boiling when they arrive," she said.
But I prepared well for it – I got candles and paraffin oil, and I got all the groceries in, and I use long-life milk.
And I had logs, turf, and fire starters.
Many homeowners struggled to sleep through these chilly winter nights without electricity, but not Margaret.
"I have two hot water bottles, one at my feet and one at my head," she explained.
She also adds multiple layers, sleeping under four duvets.
I'm feeling very cozy and I stay near the fire all through the night.
Margaret is accustomed to not having the basic household services that many people consider essential.
"Living a fulfilling life is more valuable than just meeting basic needs," she said.
This house holds the footprints of my ancestors – the house is sacred to me.
Preserving Mullylusty Cottage in its original state has led to it being classified as a heritage site of "international interest".
Margaret, who feels a strong sense of pride and responsibility towards this registered historic building, stated: "The house now is my sanctuary and I just love it."
We could go without the main power supply.
Is there a simpler way to be self-sufficient?
Michael Wilkinson resides with his wife and children in a home situated above the Suir Valley in County Kilkenny.
When they moved in six years ago, they encountered rapidly increasing energy bills and frequent power outages, which Michael described as "very frustrating".
In response, the 41-year-old mechanic spent the past two years constructing his own energy system to transition his home away from Ireland's national grid.
"We just kept increasing and increasing it until we had enough that we could function without the main power supply," Michael explained.
The house features 36 solar panels installed on its roof and distributed throughout the garden.
"We integrated a wind turbine into the system, and I constructed the mast and all its components by myself," he stated.
It mainly relies on solar power as the primary source, with wind power serving as a backup. When the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing, a petrol generator takes over.
My monthly expenses have decreased by as much as 80%.
He purchased the generator exclusively for emergency situations since the fuel is pricier than relying on the mains electricity supply.
For that reason, he uses a "change-over switch", which can either disconnect or reconnect his home from the grid whenever necessary.
His system not only safeguards their home from power outages - their electricity bills have significantly decreased.
"You're always going to have a connection charge anyway, so you'll never receive a bill of zero, but it has reduced our bills by approximately 75 to 80 percent," he said.
Most of the time we operate independently, without relying on external power sources.
"It's only when you have those prolonged periods of no sunshine and no breeze that we use a change-over switch".
Their residence is not connected to a municipal water supply, and as a result, they make use of their own generated power to pump water from a well.
They also use an open fireplace with a boiler at the back that heats their radiators and provides hot water for showers.
The tech-savvy couple also document their DIY projects on a video-sharing platform called YouTube.
There's surprisingly little distinction between a contemporary life without a connection to the grid and what one might consider a typical life with access to the grid.
"You're generating the power entirely on your own," Michael said.
However, all this equipment comes at a cost and Michael estimates they have spent about $6,700 over two years installing the system, excluding wiring.
We did not take out loans or use a line of credit. Instead, we saved a little at a time each month and gradually added more to our savings.
The Wilkinsons also lower their expenses by cultivating their own vegetables and raising chickens for both eggs and meat.
However, there are still certain items that Mother Nature is reluctant to supply in an Irish climate.
"It's extremely challenging to cultivate bananas yourself. You'll consistently need to rely on supermarkets for your supply," Michael says.
It's true that there are many things you can accomplish, but I believe it's unlikely to be completely independent without making significant and challenging compromises.