Clonmel residents evacuated after severe flooding

The Army was called in today to evacuate residents in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, after severe flooding overnight and today.

Much of the town has been submerged in water after the River Suir burst its banks last night and continued heavy rain today. The town centre is completely closed off, a Garda spokesman.

He said the Quays, Oldbridge and David Road were all impassable. High-set Army trucks were used to take stranded residents from their homes this afternoon.

All bridges are closed except the Gas House Bridge, while access from the Waterford side is blocked, according to AA Roadwatch. Clonmel was flooded just over a year ago and suffered severe flooding in 2000 and 2004.

In Nenagh a nursing home had to be evacuated as a result of rising waters. More than 30 residents of the Riverside Nursing Home were moved out of the building when a nearby river overflowed.

They are being accommodated in hospital and hotels until it is safe to return.

Flooding was also reported in Cork, Cavan, Offaly and Westmeath with many roads affected.

Met Éireann has forecast rain will spread westwards again this evening and tonight but that clearer, colder weather will follow.

Some dry spells will develop in the afternoon. The weather is set to turn colder tonight with icy roads in places and some wintry showers in the east tomorrow. Showers of rain, sleet and snow will move westwards overnight tomorrow.

Bad flooding has also been reported today across the country including counties Mayo, Cork, Cavan, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon and in Northern Ireland where two stages of the World Rally Championship were cancelled yesterday evening due to flooding.

AA Roadwatch said the N62 Birr to Templemore Road was passable but with extreme care at Derrymore 5 kilometres outside Roscrea, Co Tipperary. In Roscrea town, Castle St and Lourdes Rd were flooded but passable with care.

Flooding was also reported in Tullamore and near Birr, Co Offaly, where the road between Ballyboy and Cadamstown is partially blocked after a landslide. In Wicklow Marlton Road from the Beehive to Wicklow was badly flooded and in Roscommon the N5 Longford to Charlestown Road on the Roscommon side of Frenchpark was said to be under water.

Flooding is also widespread in the North, with the A1 road near Banbridge particularly bad, according to the PSNI.

Next week will be “bitterly cold with temperatures reaching only between 2 and 6 degrees by day”, Met Éireann said. There will be wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow, most frequent in the eastern half of the country.

Additional reporting PA