The beast from the east has wreaked havoc, but there was much to celebrate from the last seven days or so.

Firstly, step forward Met Éireann, which correctly forecasted the snow, the storm and the thaw. As a result, people were prepared, and dug in to wait out the worst of the weather. It’s fair to say that Siobhan Ryan became the public face of the war effort – Ireland’s Darkest Hour.

Not everyone could afford to wait out the snow. In particular, people from the health professions had to get to work, and sick people had to be brought to hospital. Farmers stepped forward, setting to work clearing roads. This was done while the workload was multiplying in their own yards, particularly where sheds came down or water and/or power was lost.

The men and women who went out and kept Ireland moving are heroes, and are rightly being lauded for their efforts.

It is a sharp reminder of the central role farmers play in rural life. They are the first responders in many situations. There have now been calls for planning to develop an agreed and co-ordinated response to weather emergencies in rural areas.

Key to this would be the automatic indemnification of volunteers keeping roads clear. It was Saturday before confirmation came from Government that people out clearing roads would not be personally liable should there be a mishap, and much had already been done.

A special shout out also to the many milk lorry drivers who braved awful conditions to reach yards.

No one is immune in these situations. Michael D’Arcy might be a Government minister, but he had sheds flattened by the snow just the same, losing eight animals from his dairy herd.

For all the heroes, there were villains. While the looting of the Lidl store in Tallaght gained international coverage, at least two rural thefts came to light. A John Deere XUV855M gator was stolen from Meath Farm Machinery’s yard near Navan on Sunday. The garage has CCTV images of the vehicle being taken away on a flatbed truck and has appealed for witnesses. Meanwhile, tools were reported stolen from a farm in Co Waterford.

I’m also tempted to include whoever it was in Customs and Excise that decided to show up in Taghmon in Wexford on Monday, checking tax and dipping diesel. This was the epicentre of the storm damage. Bad timing, bad thinking, not cool.