Calm and cold after storm

Clodagh Sheehy

THE storm is over, but it has left broken power lines, flooded fields and treacherous driving conditions.

Although winds have died down, the after-effects of the stormy conditions were still being felt with 1,500 homes still without electricity and four ferry sailings cancelled.

The weekend weather promises to be much colder and calmer but motorists were still being warned today to drive with care since many roads are littered with broken trees and fallen power lines.

Conditions were too dangerous for ESB repair crews to work overnight. Yesterday they worked flat out to restore power to 10,000 customers.

With improved weather today they hope to bring electricity supplies back to the remaining homes. The worst hit areas included Lettermore in Connemara and Ennis in Co Clare.

Four Irish Ferries' Jonathan Swift sailings between Dublin and Holyhead were cancelled today because of stormy seas.

The west of the country got the worst of the storm as the coast from Kerry to Donegal was battered by huge swells and gusts of up to 140kph.

csheehy@herald.ie