Limerick worst hit as families rescued from floods
Families had to be rescued from their homes as the south and west was hit with gale force winds, heavy rain and serious flooding in several parts.
Limerick was among the areas worst hit. Emergency services worked flat out in a number of housing estates where people were left trapped in their homes.
Mike Coady, son Eoin and horse Peg estimate they have rescued 200-300 people so far in St Mary's Park, Limerick pic.twitter.com/tTzZjOVGN5
— Anne Sheridan (@annesheridan1) February 1, 2014
Half a dozen boats were used to rescue several elderly people from the city’s Lee housing estate. Fire crews were also involved in a major operation. Ambulances were on standby.
Some residents managed to wade through the water.
In the neighbouring Lahinch area giant waves washed over three storey guest houses on the seafront and huge boulders were swept away into a car park.
Kilkee Co Clare suffering a bit during this storm #weather pic.twitter.com/YK8VGqzfqp
— Alan Owens (@alanowens_limk) February 1, 2014
Patron St of Bridges, you say? #StormBrigid undos all repair work after #StormChristine no more carpark in #doolin pic.twitter.com/eotWeViStD”
— Siobhán Cronin🇺🇦SiobhanC@mastodon.ie (@cronin_siobhan) February 1, 2014
With winds gusting at up to 120km/h, (75 mph) Met Eireann issued a status orange weather warning for Munster, Leinster, Connacht and parts of Ulster. At one stage more than 5,500 properties were without power, 4000 of them in Ennis, Co Clare.
Houses near Castlegregory, Co Kerry were cut off when rocks, boulders and other debris blocked the only access road to the Kilshannig area.
Section of a roof has been blown off a Chinese restaurant in Cahersiveen. Main Street closed #storm pic.twitter.com/L8nYjQSUyP
— Seán Mac an tSíthigh (@Buailtin) February 1, 2014
Parts of Galway city and Tralee, Co Kerry were also flooded and emergency crews helped provide sandbags and in Cork city, a stretch of the River Lee overflowed its banks.
AA Roadwatch warned drivers to be careful because of the worsening weather and several flights from Dublin Airport to Britain, Paris and Madrid had to be cancelled.
Poor old Achill Island took a battering last night http://t.co/bLVOW20uWV (via @WestIrePrivTour) pic.twitter.com/yjBGrypLUk
— breakingnews.ie (@breakingnewsie) February 1, 2014
Meanwhile in the North, police warned drivers to avoid parts of Newry and Warrenpoint, Co Down because of floods on some roads.
“@eunandoherty: This is where the Inishowen 100 road #malinhead #inishowen #donegal used to be http://t.co/u48sapz06e” sweet Jesus !!
— Rónán McLaughlin (@romclaughlin) February 1, 2014
