Major clean-up operation after overnight storms

Strong winds and heavy rain are creating dangerous conditions in many parts of Ireland, with motorists being advised to drive with extreme care.

Met Éireann has issued a status orange weather warning, with gusts of up to 130km/h expected for Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

The East Link toll bridge in Dublin was closed due to flooding but has since reopened.

The Estuary Road in Malahide is closed and motorists are being advised to avoid Portmarnock and Strand Road in Sutton due to flooding.

Victoria Quay and Wolfe Tone Quay in the city centre have both reopened after earlier flooding.

The Strand Road in Sandymount has reopened following high tide but Vico Road in Dalkey is closed because of fallen power lines.

In Co Louth, the Blackrock Road in Dundalk is impassable and Wellington Quay and North Quay in Drogheda are both flooded.

The River Shannon has burst its banks at Condell Road in Limerick city and the road has been closed.

There is also spot flooding in parts of Belmullet and Westport in Co Mayo and gardaí have warned motorists to be aware of excess surface water on the Castlebar to Newport road.

High tides and strong winds caused flooding in parts of Salthill and Galway city this morning.

Parts of the promenade in Salthill are under water and the road has been closed to traffic.

Galway docks and the area around the Spanish Arch were also flooded.

The waters have begun to recede in Galway city and a clean-up operation is under way. Many streets that had been closed to traffic have now re-opened.

However, a number of businesses in the Flood Street area sustained water damage.

The pool and gym at the Leisureland complex were badly damaged and council officials say the building will be closed to the public until at least Monday.

A wedding fair scheduled for Sunday at the complex has been postponed.

About 2,800 people are without electricity as the high winds damaged power lines overnight.

The majority of the faults are in the west, northwest and southwest, with counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Clare, among the worst affected areas.

There are reports of trees and other debris on roads in several counties. 

Cork City Council has issued a tidal flood alert for the morning tides tomorrow and Sunday.

Parts of Cork city were badly hit last night by rising waters from the River Lee and a number of homes had to be evacuated.

However, high tide passed this morning without major flooding.

There was some surface water on South Terrace, Fr Matthew Quay and Morrison's Island, but it has since receded.

A flight from Manchester to Cork Airport landed safely on its third attempt last night after the airport declared a full emergency.

The Aer Lingus Regional flight, operated by Aer Arann, touched down in the strong winds just before midnight. There were 50 people on board.

The storm also caused travel disruption with Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and Stena Line cancelling a number of services today.

Aer Lingus said that due to adverse weather conditions affecting the northeast of the United States, in particular the Boston area, there may be disruption to flight schedules and ground transportation.

Passengers are asked to check with the companies' websites.

Warning over potential flooding in Belfast

Police in Belfast have warned that the docks area close to the city centre could flood in a tidal surge this afternoon.

However, they hope that serious flooding in the east of the city may now be prevented.

Stormont ministers have convened an emergency meeting to discuss a multi-agency response.

Last night residents of Sydenham in east Belfast were told to pack a bag and prepare for potential evacuation.

Sandbags were distributed to the public through the night while the authorities built up river defences.

But this morning the PSNI said the area may avoid "serious flooding".

Meanwhile, a number of locations in Co Wexford are experiencing disruption to the power supply.

The main areas affected are Newbawn, Ballymurrin, Finchogue, New Ross, Wexford town and Blackwater.

A spokesperson for ESB said 4,000 homes were affected earlier after two main lines were brought down following lightning strikes.

ESB network crews are carrying out repairs and power has now been restored to the majority of those affected, but around 600 homes are still experiencing disruption.

Extensive structural damage was caused to the promenade area of Lahinch in Co Clare and some businesses located at the town end of the promenade were flooded.

Clare County Council said the promenade will remain closed until further notice after the walkways and seawall were "seriously compromised".

Local mobile home parks along with lands near the golf club were also flooded.

County council crews are working to clear flood water and debris on the Lahinch to Liscannor road and on the Kilrush to Kilimer road.

RNLI operation stood down after alarm declared a hoax

A major rescue operation off Co Down was stood down this morning after a report that a man had entered the sea was declared a hoax.

Both Newcastle's RNLI's inshore and all-weather lifeboats were launched after the call was received that a man had got into difficulty while trying to rescue his dog.

Conditions were said to be very challenging with Force 7 winds and two metre swells.

RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Captain Joseph McClelland said the hoax call could have put people's lives at risk and "diverted necessary search and rescue assets away from other work".

Members of Kilkeel and Newcastle coastguard and two helicopters from the Irish Coast Guard and the PSNI were also on the scene.

Woman escapes from submerged car

A women had a lucky escape when she was washed into the sea at Ballylongford in Co Kerry last night.

The Limerick woman had taken a wrong turn onto a boreen leading to the sea.

When she realised her mistake, she tried to brake but the car slipped on seaweed into the sea.

As her car filled up with water, she rang her brother and he raised the alarm.

Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue, the Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter and the Ballybunion Coast Guard unit responded to the alarm at 7.15pm.

The car was spotted in the sea by the helicopter and the woman was found close to the shore by members of Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue.

She had climbed out of the submerged car and been washed ashore.

The woman was treated for shock and hypothermia at the scene and later taken to Kerry General Hospital.

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