Latest: West Cork residents likely to be without power overnight
The council has had over 80 reports of fallen trees so far, including this one at a house in Cobh. Picture: Ellen O'Regan.
“We weren’t as badly hit as we thought,” said Cork County Councillor Danny Collins as he helped remove sandbags from around Bantry this morning.
It seems to be the resounding message following the aftermath of Storm Eunice, which barrelled through Cork this morning bringing sleet, heavy rain, and 130km/hour gusts.
The county’s coastal towns were particularly concerned about damage but according to Mr Collins, businesses in Bantry only suffered from loss of power.
“No businesses got flooded, thankfully. Council staff were up all night but besides some flooding on outer roads and some trees down, it wasn’t as bad as we expected,” Mr Collins said.
Bantry residents aren’t the only ones without power. Over 80,000 people across Ireland had lost electricity by this afternoon.
In Cork, almost 3,000 people were without power in Douglas alone this morning. As of 1pm, there were around 31,000 customers without power in the county, according to ESB Networks.
The worst affected areas seem to be in western towns such as Bandon, Ballydehob, Glengarriff and Dunmanway. Around 1,200 homes and businesses are without power in Glengarriff and 2,500 are without power in Ballydehob.
"All available resources are being deployed to respond to all electricity outages once it is safe to do so. With the worst of the storm in the Southwest abating, crews have now safely mobilised and repair work has commenced," said ESB Networks.
"They will work through this afternoon into this evening restoring as many customers without power as possible. However, with a yellow wind and rain warning in place nationwide until 6pm, poor weather conditions may hamper crews in restoring power.
The Fastnet Lighthouse recorded gusts of up to 154km/hour, while Met Éireann's Roches Point weather station in Cork recorded its highest February wind (137km/hour) speed in 65 years.
#StormEunice is currently impacting the UK with a provisional highest wind gust record ⬇️🌬️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 18, 2022
ℹ️ Our Roches Point weather station in #Cork provisionally recorded its highest February sustained (10-min mean) wind speed in 65 years ➡️ 106 km/h (57 knots) during 08am today 🌬️📈 https://t.co/gN5P4TpBHg
A Status Red wind warning was in place until 8am around the county, while an orange wind warning remains in place for Cork until 11am. A status yellow wind and rain warning will be in place until 6pm this evening.
Gardaí have advised those living in the worst-affected areas to stay indoors for the duration of the storm and to remain cautious.
According to Cork City Council, around 20 to 30 fallen trees have been reported around the city. Over 80 fallen trees have been reported to the County Council.
Before 11am, ESB crews had arrived at a scene in Dunmanway where a tree had fallen on the N71 near the hospital, taking electrical cables with it.
In Cobh, a large tree came through the window of a family home this morning.
Ellen O'Regan, who lives in the home, said: "We're very lucky nobody was hurt and only a few busted windows and a stray branch through the roof to show for it."
Tree came down on our family house in Cobh this morning. Very lucky to say nobody was hurt, and only a few busted windows and a stray branch through the roof to show for it. Stay safe everyone #StormEunice pic.twitter.com/ipMue2eNFF
— Ellen O'Regan (@ellenoregan) February 18, 2022
Labour Local Area Representative for the South East Ward, Peter Horgan, said that a city and county wide tree strengthening programme will be needed following the storm.
“Trees have taken a pummelling from Storm Barra and now Storm Eunice. Trees that didn’t come down have been weakened substantially,” Mr Horgan said.
“Rather than waiting to see a tree deteriorate more, maintain and strengthen them. If it requires a one off financial injection from central Government then so be it.”
The City Council also said that there is a lot of small debris on roads making driving conditions hazardous.
The council shut 12 roads this morning but have since reopened the majority - besides the Kilcully Road and the L-2998 Road from Ballinglanna to Dunkettle.
The M8 was closed between Junction 14 and 15 due to high winds but was due to reopen at 9am.
Cork County Council crews were also on standby throughout the night with sandbags and pumps in known flood risk areas.
“The Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team and Crisis Management Team will convene later this morning as updates are received in relation to any incidents across the county,” the council said.
"Flood Barriers have been erected in Fermoy as a precaution with demountable barriers erected at Brian Boru Square Slipway, Thomas Street and at the Sub Aqua Club on the Rathealy Road. These barriers are all located offline with minimal impact on road users.
Cork County Council’s offices, including public amenity sites, will remain closed until 12:30pm while Cork City Council’s public services opened at 10am.
The HSE has warned of some possible disruptions to services today.
The South/South West Hospital Group had not advised the cancellation of any elective inpatient or outpatient appointments by last night but delays are expected.
“Although the red weather warning for the area is expected to have passed after 8am, we expect that members of the public will be delayed in reaching appointments,” management said.
Irish Rail has said their services are operating on all routes and two flights from Cork Airport to Amsterdam have been cancelled.
The Dursey Cable Car is currently closed and will not reopen until a post-storm inspection has been completed.
The HSA is advising anyone encountering fallen trees not to try to clear or fell such trees.
Issues such as fallen trees, flooding and road damage in Cork County should be reported by calling 021 427 6891 between 9am and 5pm or via the County Council’s Emergency Out of Hours number, 021 4800048.
Fallen trees in Cork City should be reported to 021 4924000 or by emailing recreation@corkcity.ie.
In the event of a disruption to water supply, Irish Water can be contacted at 1800 278 278.
According to Cork County Council, fallen trees had been reported in the following areas as of 11:45am:
- School road, Whitechurch
- High Court Road, Macroom
- Ballydavid Road
- Long Bridge, Dunmanway
- Outside Millwheel from the Halfway to Kinsale
- R600 Belgooly to Riverstick
- Clashmore, Kinsale
- At the crossroad at Ballrea Road
- Near Bantry Hospital
- A mile from Rathduff on the main road to Grenagh Tree
- On the N20 near Grenagh
- Near Coolmain Curios Antique Shop in Kilbrittain
- Three miles before Ballyvourney on the N22
- Near O'Callaghan Garage on Freemount Road in Kanturk
- The Carrigaline road coming out of Crosshaven
- The Bog Road heading toward the Quality Hotel off the N25
- Scottsman Road, Monkstown
- On the road near the Pink Elephant restaurant in Kilbrittain and on the Bandon road to Kilbrittan
- Scart, Ballinhassig
- Rathgoggin
- Toonsbridge
- Near Lidl in Crosshaven
- On the N72 from Fermoy to Mallow
- Outisde of Innishvilla AFC, Innishannon
- Outside Mallow Recycling Centre
- Near St Joseph's School in Cobh
- Across from the Clonakilty Rugby Club
- Aghabullogue road.
- The main Carrigaline to Crosshaven Road
- Chapel Road, ovens
- Between Renaree and Ballingeary
- Near Eli Lilly in Dunderrow
- Near the IFI in Cobh
- Ballynoehill Tree down
- Near Gold Crop Carrigtwohill
- Near the ESB plant in Whitegate
- The road from Clonakilty to Baxters Bridge.
- The road from Brinny and the Railway Bar.
- Monarone
- Midleton
- Near the Passage West GAA club and Avondale Court Estate
- Raleigh Bridge
- Outside Whitegate Oil Refinery
- The road from Crookstown to Beal Na Blath
App?
