Storm Betty: ‘Like being attacked by a sea monster’ - Major clean-up and power outages after storm

A major clean-up operation continues after Storm Betty swept across the country overnight, causing flooding and leaving some roads unpassable due to falling trees and debris.

Storm force winds caused damage to the electricity network overnight affecting more than 70,000 homes, farms and businesses, ESB Networks said. More than 40,000 of these had their electricity restored by 5pm, leaving 30,000 without supply on Saturday evening.

Some households in localised areas may remain without supply overnight, said the company, which has responsibility for Ireland’s electricity network.

Areas most impacted by power outages include counties in the southeast along with north Dublin, Dundalk, Portlaoise and Kilkenny.

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Local residents joined a clean up at Clontarf public baths in north Dublin after the high tide left large amounts of seaweed and other debris strewn around what one lifeguard said was normally a “paradise”.

Aoife Drumm said when she arrived onsite at 7.30am on Saturday she couldn’t see the pool.

“The water was right up at the wall so we didn’t realise how bad it was. There is always that little hope that maybe it is not that bad. And then we were able to pump some of the water out and to bring the levels down to see how bad it was. It was heartbreaking.

“This is home. This is a piece of paradise. We are so upset.”

Ms Drumm said a large number of people had been offering to assist in the clean up at the baths, which first opened in 1886 as a sheltered swimming environment with a 900 sq m pool.

“We have railings but without those railings it would have been so much worse. The only way you could describe it is that it looks as if we have been attacked by a sea monster with the amount of seaweed. Everything was scattered. Furniture from one end of the pool was at the other end. We found lost property over the wall,” Ms Drumm said.

“We have been able to half empty the pool but then the tide was coming in so we had to stop. We have managed to get all the seaweed off. We now have to power hose the deck to get all the sand and silt off the deck. When that is done we have someone come in and look at all the electrics to see what has to be done there.”

A taxi driver in Templelogue in South Dublin escaped serious injury after a tree fell on to his car while he was driving.

[ Storm Betty: Woman (94) trapped in home overnight by fallen tree ]

In the North Strand a tree landed on three vehicles. Members of Dublin Fire Brigade and ESB Networks were at the scene. No injuries were reported.

In Cork, flash flooding was reported in areas such as Carrigaline, Dunmanway, Clonakilty and Roches Point.

In Cork city there was heavy flooding inbound on the N27 South City Link, near the Turner’s Cross exit. There was also flooding on the low lying quays in the city centre, in Ballyvolane and on the Rochestown Road.

A householder in Cathedral Road on the northside of the city spent much of last night ferrying water away from her front door with a wheelie bin in an attempt to avoid serious damage to the property.

In Dungarvan, Co Waterford, a boat broke free from its berth and crashed into the harbour. Members of the Coast Guard arrived at the site last night to inspect the damage.

[ The relentless rain isn’t a blip. Ireland’s climate is now a year-long autumn ]

In Tralee the official welcome for participants to mark the start of the annual Rose of Tralee festival on Friday night, which was scheduled for outdoors, was moved indoors to the Siamsa Tire theatre.

The N70 Ring of Kerry from Waterville to Cahersiveen flooded and became impassable for some hours. There were other reports of flooding in the area and on Valentia Island. Fallen trees had to be cleared from the roads in a number of places.

On the Dingle peninsula locals as well as a group of French tourists pitched in to help clear the road of a fallen tree and branches until the arrival of the council workers.

Gardaí and fire services urged motorists to take particular care on the roads.

A Status Yellow rain and wind warning is in place since 8am for Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. Potential impacts could include spot flooding, difficult travelling conditions and water overtopping on coasts.

Met Éireann said today would be windy, with outbreaks of heavy or thundery rain continuing across the north and northwest. It will brighten up elsewhere with scattered showers.

The afternoon and evening will bring sunny spells in all areas with scattered showers.

Winds will ease but it will stay quite breezy through the afternoon with highest temperatures of 18-22 degrees.

It will be mostly dry tonight with clear spells. There will be occasional showers, mainly in the south and west of the country. Temperatures won’t fall below 12-15 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, fresher winds near Atlantic coasts.

Met Éireann says there is a good deal of dry and warm weather expected tomorrow with sunny spells. Scattered showers will develop, especially affecting western areas.

[ Yes, Ireland’s wet summer is linked to climate change, a climatologist writes ]

“Highest temperatures of 19-23 degrees in mostly moderate southwest winds but rather windy along Atlantic coasts.”

It will be generally changeable with rain and showers at times, interspaced with long dry and sunny spells expected.

A mix of cloud and sunny spells are expected on Monday with highest temperatures of 17-22 degrees.

ESB Networks advised customers without power to check for updates on when their fault is expected to be repaired at PowerCheck.ie.