Storm Kathleen: Thousands without power as severe and damaging gusts hit Ireland

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Storm Kathleen has left thousands of homes without electricity as strong winds and damaging gusts sweep across Ireland.

More than 34,000 homes and businesses were without power by lunchtime on Saturday, according to electricity supply company ESB Networks.

Repair crews are active and responding to faults where it is safe to do so, the ESB said.

Rail services are currently suspended to and from Heuston Station in Dublin due to a large tree on the line near Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

Services have restarted between Killucan and Enfield after a tree on the line caused cancellations and delays earlier between Dublin and Sligo.

Trains between Dublin and Galway are also delayed because of a tree down in Co Offaly.

Dublin Airport said a total of six flights have been cancelled due to weather conditions at UK and European airports.

Shannon and Cork Airports are reporting no major delays with minor delays reported at Knock Airport. However, Belfast City Airport has been badly impacted.

Gusts of up to 110km/h have been recorded in counties Mayo and Galway, where a status-orange wind warning is in place until 6pm.

A separate status-orange wind warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford ends at 2pm.

A status-yellow wind warning is in place nationwide until 8pm.

Forecaster Met Éireann warned that there will be gale force southerly winds that will bring a risk of difficult travel conditions, fallen trees, some power outages and flooding along coastal areas.

Keith Leonard, national director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), urged people to stay away from all coastal areas during the Met Éireann warnings.

“Importantly, I would remind people that it is critical that they never ever touch or approach fallen wires,” he said, advising people to contact ESB Networks instead.

In the North, the Met Office issued a wind warning for counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry, which will stay in place from 8am until 10pm.

It has warned of blustery showers in parts of the region, with strong to gale force southerly winds and possibly severe gales for a time along the Down and Antrim coasts.

Some exposed and coastal areas could see gusts reaching higher speeds of up to 70mph.