The ESB has warned that the Christmas storms have weakened many trees, which could now fall on power lines in relatively moderate gusts of wind. Mr Michael Kelly, an ESB spokesman, said that Met Eireann had advised them to expect gusts today of 50 to 60 m.p.h., which could cause a new series of power cuts if trees fall on lines.
Yesterday the ESB reconnected most of the 1,200 households which have been without electricity since Christmas Eve. Mr Kelly said that only 150 homes were still without power last night and the ESB was confident that electricity would be restored to them today. The homes still without power are mainly in remote areas of Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.
One of the casualties of the storm has been the Christmas tree in Dublin's Buckingham Street, erected in memory of people who have died of drug-related illnesses in the area.
Supt Oliver Hanley, of Store Street station, said that the tree had been made unstable by the stormy weather and Dublin Corporation had cut it down for safety reasons.
A spokesman for Met Eireann said yesterday that the focus of their attention for renewed stormy conditions had shifted to Thursday. Strong winds and rain are expected today.
The weather is expected to turn colder tomorrow and there is a likelihood of some snowfalls on high ground.
Mr Kelly said the ESB estimates that 150,000 households were affected by the Christmas storms. The company still has 1,000 staff working on restoring power to customers still without it.
Many of the ESB repair crews now working in Munster are from the less seriously affected northern areas of the Republic.
The cost of the operation has not yet been calculated, Mr Kelly said. "When this is all over, we'll do the totting up", he added.
The Fine Gael spokesman on public enterprise, Mr Ivan Yates, yesterday praised ESB workers for their efforts to reconnect electricity supplies following the worst storms in almost a quarter of a century.
A spokeswoman for the Moscow State Circus, which has been performing under a tent on the seafront at Booterstown in Co Dublin, said that performances had not been affected. She added: "We have a new tent which is designed to withstand gusts of up to 100 m.p.h."
Swansea Cork Ferries has cancelled today's 9 p.m. sailing from Swansea and Thursday's 9 a.m. sailing from Cork. It is hoped that normal services will resume on Thursday night. Intending passengers are being advised to contact (021) 271166 for details.
Stena Line is also advising passengers intending to sail in the coming days to contact it for up-to-date information in the light of the severe weather conditions which are forecast.