Environment

Storm Éowyn clean-up under way in Cork, amid fresh rain and wind warnings

‘The damage is terrible’: A Cork family is forced to move to a Mallow hotel after a tree came through their house roof

Storm Éowyn: High waves hit the coastline at Rosscarbery, west Cork. Photograph: Andy Gibson
Storm Éowyn: High waves hit the coastline at Rosscarbery, west Cork. Photograph: Andy Gibson
Sat Jan 25 2025 - 13:48

Cork County Council has asked road users to take care and watch out for debris, fallen power lines and downed trees or branches as the clean-up operation continues following Storm Éowyn.

The storm clean-up will take several days to complete and could be hampered as further rain and windy conditions are expected in the county tomorrow.

Many main roads impacted by the storm were brought back in to operation by yesterday evening. The roads that have reopened include the N71 Glengarriff, Crosshaven, between Bandon and Ballineen, Ballinspittle, the N20 near Ballyhea, and the N72 near Mallow Racecourse.

Cork County Council swimming pools in Dunmanway, Fermoy and Mallow have opened as normal today as have libraries in the city and county.

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However, the national forecaster has indicated that Cork is not yet out of the woods when it comes to dealing with stormy weather.

A status yellow rain warning will come in to effect at 5am on Sunday, lasting until 5pm, while a status yellow wind warning will run from 6am to 6pm tomorrow. Heavy downpours of rain could cause flash flooding.

A status yellow wind warning will also come in to effect from 11pm on Sunday in Cork, ending at 6am on Monday. This could cause further damage to already weakened structures and trees. Dangerous travelling conditions are expected.

Meanwhile, the Ducey family in Killavullen, north Cork, are continuing to assess the damage caused to their home after a huge tree smashed through the roof of their property during Storm Éowyn.

Angela Ducey says that luckily the family decided to sleep downstairs during the storm as they were worried the stair lift would not work if they lost power. A family member relies on it arising out of a health condition.

Ms Ducey told Red FM that she was “in an awful way” when she heard a “bomb”-like noise hit the house at around 12.30am yesterday.

“I shot out of bed. My husband ran upstairs and told me: ‘Angela don’t go up there.’ I asked why and he said a large tree had just come through the roof.

“The damage is terrible. We were going to sit it out but then the water started running through the top of the house, down through the ceilings and into the bedrooms. Then, just before the fire brigade arrived, it started pouring down through the light fixture in the sittingroom,” Ms Ducey said.

“I have house insurance, and I am hoping that I am covered. We don’t know – we don’t know how good or bad it is yet.”

The Duceys were collected by the emergency services and are now staying at the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow, Co Cork. They are appreciative of the efforts of the fire brigade who helped them. The family will live with relatives until their home is habitable again.