Electrical storms, which caused havoc for businesses and left thousands of homes without electricity supplies, continue to threaten the country today.
The spectacular lightning and torrential rain early on Monday triggered about 10,000 business alarms around the State, caused a systems failure in Aer Lingus's computer reservations system and left some 10,000 homes in darkness.
Mr Jim Walsh, a spokesman for the trade association for major security companies, the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA), said that more than 10 times the normal number of alarms were activated by the storm. Key-holders were called out during the night to turn the alarms off.
Aer Lingus's computer reservations system failed for a few minutes at 1.05 a.m. yesterday. A company spokeswoman said that the system was not damaged and that the power failure did not disrupt flights.
Electricity supplies to some 10,000 premises were cut off as a result of the storm. In Mullingar, Co Westmeath, about 8,000 homes were without electricity for more than seven hours on Monday after lightning struck two lines at a 110 kilovolt ESB station.
The Tarkett Ireland factory in Mullingar, which employs 187 people and makes vinyl floor covering, had to cancel its late-night shift. The factory had been due to reopen on Sunday night after a three-week summer break.
Tarkett Ireland's financial director, Mr Martin Ryan, said that this was the third time production had been stopped at the factory this summer as a result of electrical storms. "They have a devastating effect on the factory; they render it hopeless," he said.
ESB crews worked throughout the night to restore power to most homes and businesses in Mullingar by 8.30 a.m. yesterday. Other customers in Delvin, Tyrrellspass and Coole had their supplies back to normal by 1 p.m. yesterday.
There was flooding in Howth and Sutton in north county Dublin and in parts of Co Kerry. More than an inch of rain fell in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry, between midnight and 6 a.m. on Monday.
Motorists on the main Dublin to Galway road were unable to get petrol supplies for part of yesterday morning due to the power failure.
A house undergoing construction in Killorglin, Co Kerry, was damaged when it was struck by lightning. Homes and businesses were also affected in Co Wicklow, Co Wexford, Bantry in Co Cork, and Kenmare, Waterville, Glencar and Cahirciveen in Co Kerry.
Parts of Dublin were without electricity between midnight and 2.30 a.m. on Monday. A chimney collapsed in Belvedere Place in the north inner city after it was struck by lightning.
Mobile phone users reported blackouts in parts of the midlands and in Co Kerry. Met Eireann said that there was no disruption of services within the State. Dunnes Stores and Superquinn reported no problems with electricity supplies in their branches as a result of the storm.
Senator Feargal Quinn, the managing director of Superquinn, said that the only problem his firm had encountered was a buying spree of candles by customers who had heard forecasts of further storms.
Met Éireann said that further thunderstorms and heavy rain were likely in the north and east today and tonight. These are not expected to be as spectacular as the storms early on Monday. Temperatures today will be between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius.