More high winds forecast after New Year storm

The storm on New Year's Eve produced the highest winds of 2006 and caused widespread damage and interruptions to power, particularly in the west.

Winds of up to 146 km/h (90 mph) were recorded at Malin Head on December 31st, the highest at the Co Donegal meteorological station since 2002, according to Met Éireann.

More than 24,000 homes across the State were left without power for much of New Year's Eve, according to the ESB, though almost all of these had been reconnected by yesterday evening. Customers in west Donegal and Athlone were badly affected.

However, with further high winds forecast for last night and more expected in the days to come, the weather looks set to wreak havoc in the first days of 2007.

Already, ferry companies operating on the Irish Sea have cancelled their fast services between Ireland and Britain.

Neither Irish Ferries nor Stena Line will operate fast sailings today - both companies also cancelled services yesterday - and Irish Ferries said its services on the Jonathan Swift were in doubt for tomorrow. Passengers are being accommodated on regular ferries.

The Dublin Port Tunnel was closed for much of New Year's Eve because of an electrical fault. It reopened in the evening.

In Co Donegal, storm-force winds left thousands of homes without electricity and caused much structural damage.

Trees fell on many roads in east Donegal, particularly around the Convoy, Raphoe and St Johnston areas and in north Inishowen.

Many parts of west Donegal were without electricity from 4pm on Sunday and pockets of the Rosses and Gweedore areas were still without service late yesterday evening.

In west Donegal, roofs were blown off outhouses at Rannafast not far from Donegal airport, cutting power and phone lines.

Near Annagry a 9m (30ft) mobile home was destroyed when it was uprooted and blown about like a football. It was unoccupied at the time.

The bad weather prompted Fianna Fáil councillor Chris Andrews to call for flood prevention measures to be fast-tracked in Dublin.

"There are proposals to fast-track virtually every other project, such as incinerators, waste plants.

"However, the only project that the residents want is flood prevention measures and these appear to be taking forever," he said.

Met Éireann is forecasting a dry and bright start to today, but rain will spread from the west and winds are expected to strengthen again tonight.