LIVE STORM BLOG: Fallout of Storm Barra

The Celt teams will keep you posted on the latest developments as we hear them...

10:15am: ESB crews working to restore power to areas hit by storm

9:46am: Road closed at Kildallan old Post Office, tree fallen

9:30am: Weather update - Strong winds, hail and sleet as status 'yellow' remains in place

9:19am: Tree fallen across power lines on the R199 Cavan to Killeshandra Road - fire crews dealing with it

4:30pm: The latest from Met Éireann

4pm: Covid Test centres close for the day

3:30pm: Storm delay works on Cuilcagh Boardwalk

3pm: Contingency plans in place for local vaccine centres

2pm: Cavan Fire Service crews are busy dealing with the fallout of the storm

9.32am:

Restoration of the power outage in Derrycramph - affecting 1,456 ESB customers - has been pushed back from 9am to 1.45pm.

9.12am:

More trees reported down at Sugarloaf just outside Beturbet which the local Fire Service are dealing with.

The Post Office in Cavan Town is closed due to the power outage.

We've received reports of other schools closed:

The Royal School is closed, as is St Felim's Cavan, and Kingscourt National School, with reports of intermittent power outages in the east Cavan town.

9.45am:

Some secondary schools have this morning announced they are closing for the day due to Storm Barra, while power cuts are affecting some parts of Cavan Town.

St Patrick's College closed due to the power outage, while Loreto say they are taking shutting their doors due to "an increase in the weather conditions & structural damage".

ESB explain that a fault in Cavan Town was reported just before 8am this morning affecting 1,769 customers. It is expected to be resolved by 9am. Meanwhile an outage in Ballybay, affecting 500 customers, is expected to be retored by 11.45am.

10.15am:

Cavan County Council reporting that a tree is now on the R194. Emergency Services and there and are working to clear the scene.

A fallen branch has meanwhile been removed from the R165 on the Bailieborough to Kingscourt Road.

A fallen tree is partially blocking Cavan bound traffic on the R188 Cootehill to Cavan Road at Tullyvin. The fire service have ben notified.

10.20am:

It has been a busy 24 hours for the local fire service.

Yesterday Belturbet Fire Station Cn18 had an early start when called to deal with a single car road traffic collision.

The vehicle involved left the N54 Cavan to Monaghan Road, entering a steep ditch. Thankfully there were no injuries reported.

10.45am:

ESB update on all major faults across the local region- 07/12/2021

. 77 customers are affected by a fault at Coratober on the Cavan-Cootehill Road, just outside Cavan Town. The fault was reported shortly after 9am, with an estimated restore time of 14:15.

. 163 customers are affected by an outage in the Derrycramph/ Swellan areas. The fault was reported shortly after 8.30am, with an estimated restore time of 13:45.

. 469 customers are affected by an outage near Kingscourt. The fault was reported at 9.42am, with an estimated restore time of 15:45.

. 500 customers are affected by an outage in Ballybay in Monaghan. The fault was reported shortly after 8am, with an estimated restore time of 13:15.

. Faults have been restored at two areas in Drumbear in Monaghan where a combined total of nearly 800 customers were affected by outages. Nearly 400 more customers had power restored at Telaydon.

. 81 customers are still without power at a section of Telaydon, with an estimated restore time of 14.15 given.

. 194 customers are without power in Delvin, with an estimated restore time of 14.15.

. 52 customers are affected by an outage in the Manorhamilton area. The fault was reported at 7.28am, with an estimated restore time of 12.30pm.

. 1038 customers are affected by an outage in Slane. The fault was reported at 8.36am, with an estimated restore time of 14.45.

10.50am:

A number of trees are down across the Cavan-Belturbet district, with local fire crews called. Cavan County Council crews are also attending at some of the incidents to assist with clearing debris. There have been no reports of flooding.

11.15am:

The ISPCA has issued advice to pet owners to keep them safe during Storm Barra.

Then animal welfare body shared tips for pet owners with gale to storm force winds hitting many parts of the country, as well as heavy rain. They same animals can be easily frightened and disorientated and should be kept securely inside until the storm passes.

11.32am:

Planned maintenance to the Cuilcagh Boardwalk had been rescheduled due to #StormBarra. People are also being urged to avoid wooded areas and high ground as the storm lashes much of the country with high winds and heavy rains.

The boardwalk had been due to be closed from December 6-7 for the maintenance works, which will now take place on Thursday and Friday, December 9 and 10.

A spokesperson for the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark further states that the risk of snow accumulations may lead to slippery conditions underfoot.

“Cuilcagh Boardwalk will then be closed to the public on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 December to facilitate maintenance works, with the boardwalk reopening on Saturday 11 December 2021."

11.45am:

ESB Networks are reporting that power has been restored in several areas.

. Derrycramph at Shankcloon (restored at 10.14am)- outage had affected 476 customers

. Derryycramph at Swellan (10.51am)- 980 customers

. Cavan Town at Drumalee Cross (10.48am)- 589 customers

. Cavan Town at Cortatober (11.14am)- 33 customers

11.58am:

Outages still ongoing:

. Cavan Town at Farnham- 156 customers affected- repair time estimated at 14.30.

. Cavan Town at Fair Town- 44 customers affected- repair time 14.15.

. Kingscourt- 469 customers are affected - repair time 15:45.

. Carrickmacross- 93 customers affected- repair time 15.00.

. Ballybay- 500 customers- repair time 13.15.

. Arigna at Dowra- 118 customers- repair time 13.45.

. Arigna at Ballinaglera, Leitrim- 107 customers- repair time 13.45.

. Power is still out in Monaghan Town at Drumbear affecting 422 customers. The restore time given is 14.30. Power has already been restored at Cornamundy (686 customers affected), Berry's Brae (198); and Telaydon (386). Some 81 customers are still without power at Aghaloughan where the restore time given is 14.15.

12.05pm:

'The storm is only beginning, worse to come'

An update from Cavan Chief Fire Officer, Noel O'Reilly.

"There is nothing major to report at this stage. We have dealt and continue to deal with a number of trees down but fire service crews are handling these comfortably. There are reports of surface water but no flooding.

"It would be very beneficial to remind people that the storm is only beginning and the worst of it is due late afternoon/early evening. People should be directed to Met Eireann for weather updates."

12.27pm:

A Status Yellow weather warning remains in place with Storm Barra expected to bring widespread mean wind speeds of 50-65 kmph and gusts of 90-110kmph with localised stronger winds likely. Heavy rain will also bring risks of surface flooding. Disruption to power and travel are "likely" say the national forecaster.

Red level warnings have been issued for counties on the south-west coast, while Orange Status warnings are in place for much of the West Coast and other coastal areas, including East Meath, and Leitrim.

12.55pm:

The Yellow Status weather warning remains in place until 6pm on Wednesday, November 8.

1pm:

ESB Networks have issued a safety message reminding that fallen electricity wires are live and dangerous. "Never approach or touch them. Call our emergency service immediately on 1800 372 999 (+353 21 2382410), 999 or 112".

1.05pm:

Emergency Services attached to Cavan County Council are currently treating an oil spill from Virginia through Ballyjamesduff and onto Kilnaleck. Motorists are being advised to exercise caution if travelling in the area.

1.31pm:

Cavan County Council are warning that while locally winds have "died down for now", it is expected they will "pick up again" and "further incidents" linked to Storm Barra and the high winds it is causing can be expected throughout the day and night.

1.45pm:

Power now out in the Mullagh area where 144 customers are without electricity. Estimated restore time 18:45.

1.49pm:

Power restored in Ballinaglera (107 customers affected) and much of Dowra (56), but still 62 customers in the West Cavan village are without electricity until 19.30.

1.51pm:

Power is back on almost everywhere in the Cavan Town area, except for 44 customers in the Fair Town area where electricity is not expected to be restored until 14.15

1.53pm:

The fault alert for Kingscourt has been separated into two areas- on the Cavan-Meath border where 375 customers are still without power, and 94 more just across the Meath border. Power is not expected to be restored until 15.45 at least.

1.56pm:

93 customers in the Carrickmacross area have had their electricity connection restored.

2pm:

Power is back on in Ballybay, and in Monaghan Town. But 81 customers are still without electricity in the Telaydon area. Restore time 14.15.

2.03pm:

Power is back in the Manorhamilton area.

2.05pm:

East Meath removed from Orange status weather warning, and the Yellow status wind and rain weather warning has been scaled back to 6pm from 8pm. The Orange status wind warning for Sligo and Leitrim will now end at 8am on Wednesday, December 8.

2.50pm:

Only areas without power now are Dowra (due to be restored at 19.30); Fair Town in Cavan Town (was due to be restored at 14.15); Mullagh (18.45); Kingscourt (15.45); and Telaydon in Monaghan (14.15).