Thousands of people remain without power after heavy winds hit Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, 8,600 customers were without power on Monday evening.
ESB crews restore power to homes in Lisdoonvarna (Niall Carson/PA)
PA Wire
Dominic McGrath21 February 2022

Nearly 9,000 homes and businesses were without power on Monday evening, after Storm Franklin hit the island of Ireland.

In the Republic of Ireland, 8,600 customers were without power on Monday evening, while in Northern Ireland the figure had fallen to 350 from a high of around 10,000.

The damage and disruption was a result of the third storm to pass over the island in recent days, after Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice wreaked havoc.

This latest storm brought coastal flooding and fallen trees to parts of the island once again, with the north and north west worst affected.

A man looks at sea spray in the Cleedagh River in Spanish Point (Niall Carson/PA)
PA Wire

Met Eireann said gusts of more than 130kph were recorded in Co Galway and Co Donegal.

Status orange wind warnings issued for parts of the north and north west lifted early on Monday, while a yellow wind warning for the entirety of the Republic of Ireland expired at 9am.

A yellow wind warning for the counties of Wicklow and Wexford had also been issued, as the storm passed over the island.

A spokesperson for ESB said that the majority of people in Ireland will have power restored by Monday evening.

However, it was expected that some people in the north west could remain without power into Tuesday.

Storm Franklin arrived as parts of the country were still clearing up after Storm Eunice.

Brian Tapley, from ESB, warned on Monday that his company’s technicians had been working for three to four days and that there were worries about “fatigue”.

Precautions had been put in place, with Sligo County Council making the decision in advance to close certain coastal roads, as well as the popular Strandhill promenade, due to fears of flooding at high tide.

Council staff in Sligo and elsewhere were still working on Monday evening to clear debris and reopen blocked roads.

High waves in Doolin in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)
PA Wire

Met Eireann has warned that the poor conditions will not disappear this week, with the weather set to remain “unsettled”.

The national forecaster has said that some parts of the country could see snow later this week.

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