Power outages, fallen trees & flash flooding in Clare due to Storm Franklin

Photograph: John Maloney

STORM FRANKLIN has knocked trees and flooded roads Co Care as the county deals with its third but arguably most severe storm of this week.

A maximum wind speed of 143km/h was recorded at Moneypoint weather station on Sunday evening. Met Éireann have a Status Orange wind warning in place until midnight. A separate Status Yellow wind warning is in place for all of Ireland until 9 o’clock tomorrow morning, with persistent rain and heavy showers leading to localised flooding in some places.

There are a total of 91 ESB customers without power in Ennistymon, crews are hopeful this will be restored after midnight on Sunday. In Drumquin, the ESB have said 24 customers are likely to be without electricity until Monday lunchtime.

13 households are without power in Miltown Malbay and 11 between Corofin and Ruan, it is expected to be restored by Monday afternoon. By the Clare and Tipperary border, almost two dozen households are without power in Ballina.

High winds have knocked trees all over Co Clare including Knockerra on the Kilrush to Knockerra road. The road is closed until Monday morning.

Motorists reported severe difficulty on the main Killaloe to Clonlara road with large pools of water leading to unsafe conditions and flooding.

Disruptions were caused to arrivals and departures at Shannon Airport. Flights from Shannon to Edinburgh and London Gatwick were cancelled, an arrival from Gatwick to Shannon was also cancelled while services from Fuerteventura and Edinburgh were diverted to Dublin Airport.

Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) appealed to people to stay indoors. “The local Gardai have been on to let me know there are multiple trees and poles down across West Clare, please stay at home, and don’t drive unless it’s an emergency”.

Conditions are to improve by Monday morning.