Storm Ashley: Thousands still without power as clean-up operation continues

Power outages were reported across the country on Sunday, with up to 53,000 people left without power at the peak of the storm, with counties Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Dublin worst hit.

ESB Networks said some 16,000 premises were still without power as of about 7am Monday morning, with work ongoing to restore service to those affected. According to ESB Power Check, the majority of the outages are located in Galway, Mayo and Kerry.

Galway was on flood alert and the Salthill promenade was swamped at high tide at about 8pm but there was no major property damage, while on the east coast, heavy seas forced the closure of the ‘wooden bridge’ at Clontarf to ensure public safety.

High winds forced about 30 aborted landings, 28 diversions, and 60 flight cancellations in or out of Dublin Airport on Sunday, with disruption reported too at Cork and Shannon Airports.

Weather conditions are forecast to be much more favourable on Monday, which should allow for a normal day of operations, a spokesman for Dublin Airport said.

“However, Sunday’s disruption — both at Dublin Airport and other airports — could mean some aircraft and crews are out of place, which could impact on airlines’ Monday schedules.”

Residents from two Ipas centres providing tented accommodation — Crooksling in Dublin and River Lodge in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow — were temporarily relocated to indoor facilities after a tent at the Crooksling site was upturned by high winds.

There was no one inside at the time and no injuries were reported.

The Department of Integration said it was working closely with emergency management and other partners to monitor the situation and to ensure the safety of all residents and staff.

In Mayo, a man had to be helped from the summit of Croagh Patrick after he got into difficulty trying to descend in 100kph winds, while in Gougane Barra, in Cork, a woman in her 20s had to be rescued after she fell and broke a leg.

Mayo Mountain Rescue advised walkers to stay off the mountains during severe weather alerts.

Met Éireann said Monday would be a drier, brighter day, with spells of sunshine and scattered showers, turning cloudier from the west in the afternoon and evening with showery outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards.

Forecasters expect a lot of dry weather in many areas for the next few of days, becoming more unsettled later in the week, but with hopes of some drier weather for the bank holiday weekend.