Clean-up continues as Storm Desmond passes

A post-Storm Desmond clean up was under way across the country on Sunday after heavy rainfall caused serious flooding.

The storm caused road closures, power cuts and flooding in parts of the country as Storm Desmond pounded the country for much of Friday, Saturday and the early hours of Sunday.

Met Éireann’s status red national weather warning was lifted at 3am on Sunday as the high winds and rains abated. The forecaster said after the rain clears in the early part of the day, conditions would be bright and mostly dry, with sunny spells and just a few isolated showers. These are expected mainly in the north and northwest.

The western seaboard was hardest hit by the storm but extensive flooding has also been reported in the south and north-west in particular.

Transport services returned to normal on Sunday morning after flights and ferry sailings were cancelled or postponed during the storm. However, many national roads remain impassable on Sunday morning with counties Kerry, Cork and Mayo the worst affected. Motorists driving in wet conditions are advised to reduce speed and keep a safe distance between them and the vehicle in front.

Among the worst hit areas was Bandon in Co Cork where the river measured 3.5m, well above the severe warning mark on a gauge at a bridge in the town.

The floodwaters peaked at about midnight after the Bandon burst its banks leading to flooding on South Main Street and Bridge Lane in the centre of town as well as Watergate Street on the northern side of town. The floods had started to recede on Sunday morning.

Some 20 troops from Collins Barracks had joined with local civil defence personnel and Cork County Council staff to distribute sand bags after it became evident that there was a danger of flooding.

Met Éireann said a band of persistent rain wouldcross the country from the west during Monday afternoon and evening.

It will clear east early in the night, leaving scattered showers to affect the south and west of the country.Changeable and very unsettled weather will continue this week, the national weather service said.

Kerry

Tralee in Co Kerry was practically cut off early on Sunday with most of the main roads into the town flooded. The army was called in to assist with vehicles and personnel last night, alongside the Civil Defence and county council workers.

Canoes were being used in the Manor area of Tralee, home to large numbers of houses and shops. The Castlemaine road the main access to mid-Kerry from Tralee will be closed for the day and the road to the coastal town of Fenit is impassable.

Council spokesman Ger O’Brien warned that while water levels would fall during the day, motorists should remain vigilant because of large volumes of surface water.

At the Old Weir Bridge in the Killarney National Park, which leads from the Upper lake, water levels rose from 2m to 5m on Saturday.

In Kenmare a huge clean-up operation was beginning after the town was cut off on Saturday with flooding in the Square area and park area.

Mayo

Crossmolina in Co Mayo was also badly hit with the River Deel bursting its banks and gardaí advising motorists to avoid if possible. Flooding was also reported along parts of the N60 Claremorris to Castlebar Rd.

Although floodwaters have begun to recede, the riverside town was still without electricity on Sunday.

Mayo chief fire officer Seamus Murphy said some 25 to 30 premises in the town centre as well as residential properties in outlying housing estates were affected by the flooding.

As sandbagging measures were extended, local Minister of State Michael Ring visited the town and promised remedial measures. He said the latest flooding illustrated the urgent need for the finalisation of the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme.

Local businesspeople lobbied Mr Ring for some form of package to compensate for the damage to property and loss of business caused by the latest flooding.

The level of the River Deel has fallen since it burst its banks but monitoring of the River Moy, which was earlier feared would burst its banks, is ongoing.

Westmeath County Council said it was on standby to assist those affected by the bad weather and advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel due to the risk posed by spot flooding, fallen trees and other debris. It also asked that people show concern for vulnerable neighbours.

The council said the River Shannon was flowing at a high level in Athlone on Sunday and this was expected to rise further and peak at some 200mm above its current level on Monday.

Flooding was also reported in Leitrim, Galway, Donegal and Monaghan, wheredrivers were urged to take extreme care on the N2 while motorway.

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland an elderly man had to be rescued from his home in Clady on Saturday night with an emergency team using a digger to get to the property after the River Finn burst its banks over a huge area.

The village and nearby Castlefin were among the worst affected in the border region. And in Larne, Co Antrim, Dunluce Street was closed after part of the roof of a building was damaged.

Northern Ireland

Parts of counties Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh suffered flooding as a result of the heavy rain and winds brought by Storm Desmond, writes Gerry Moriarty.

The North’s Fire and Rescue Service along with other agencies and volunteers assisted up to 30 people to safety after they became stranded in their flooded homes and vehicles.

The rescue services were busy on Saturday through into the early hours of Sunday morning. In Co Tyrone 10 people were rescued from flooded properties in the town while in Clady, Co Tyrone a rescue team used a mechanical digger to reach and assist an elderly man who became trapped by rising flood waters in his home.

Towns such as Castlederg, Fintona and Cookstown in Co Tyrone and Enniskillen and Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh also suffered flooding.

A number of roads were also closed due to flooding and fallen trees

Power outages

ESB Networks said on Sunday afternoon 1,000 properties - mostly in Killarney and Crossmolina - still remained without power. Services were restored to some 11,000 customers over the course of Saturday.

The public has been warned not to touch damaged or fallen electricity cables and to contact the ESB on 1850372999 or 112 if they are discovered.