Power restored to most ESB clients after Storm Barney

Areas worst affected include Bray, Greystones, Clare, Mallow, Wicklow

Crohy Head in western Donegal is exposed to Storm Barney as high winds sweep in off the Atlantic Ocean. Video: Iain Miller

Fewer than 300 homes and businesses remain without power on Wednesday after Storm Barney lashed the country on Tuesday night.

The ESB said it was confident that the majority of remaining customers without supply will have power restored later tonight.

A spokesman said fewer than 100 customers in isolated areas in the south of the country may be without power overnight.

Storm Barney hits the Dingle Peninsula with high winds creating large sea swells. Video: Gerald Horgan/dinglephoto.com

45,000 customers lost power during the height of the storm on Tuesday.

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The areas that were worst affected by power outages were Delvin, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Clare, Letterkenny, Mallow, Kilcullen and Clonmel.

Power had been restored to 5,000 customers on Wednesday morning.

A spokesman for the ESB said timber contractors have also been brought in to help with the clearing of fallen trees.

Further bad weather this morning resulted in additional faults in Tipperary and the northwest of the country, which was affected by lightning.

People are being asked to check esbpowercheck.ie if they have access to a computer or a smartphone.

If their outage is not listed, they should call 1850-372999 to report it .

If it is listed, leave phone lines free for emergencies.

Fallen power lines should not be approached.

Fallen trees

Drivers should take extra care as there are reports of fallen trees and flooding in Dublin and counties Wicklow and Roscommon.

Passengers were advised to expect delays on Irish Rail services between Athenry and Galway due to line faults as a result of a lightning storm.

Met Éireann earlier issued a Status Yellow wind warning for the country, with gusts of up to 100 km/h expected in exposed coastal areas and wind speeds of up to 60 km/h. It has since been lifted.

A Status Yellow warning is explained by Met Éireann as “weather conditions that do not pose an immediate threat to the general population, but only to those exposed to risk by nature of their location and/or activity”.

The forecaster said it would be windy on Wednesday night, with damaging gusts expected.

Winds will gradually ease by Thursday morning and Thursday will be a day of bright spells and scattered showers .

The weekend looks set to bring the coldest days of the season so far, with temperatures of only 4 or 5 degrees.

Northwesterly winds will be strong and gusty, and there will be a significant wind-chill.