People in the west were bracing themselves last night for possible flooding this morning after warnings were issued that a combination of high winds and tides could cause serious problems.
Both Met Éireann and Irish Water Safety said the risk of flooding posed by storm-force south-west to westerly winds, spring tides and heavy rain on coasts and in inland waterway areas, would continue into today.
However, Lieut-Cmdr John Leech, chief executive of Irish Water Safety, said the low pressure area had taken a more northerly track than anticipated by both Irish and British meteorologists, and the worst of the storm had occurred at sea, where there were swells of 10 metres or over 30 feet in coastal areas.
Had the storm tracked 30 miles further east, or had high water in Galway been at noon yesterday, when the winds were still southerly, there could have been considerable flooding and damage, he said. "There are so many variables in these situations that we are better off to be well prepared for the worst."
Sandbags issued by Galway City Council remained in place in Salthill, the Claddagh and the city centre area last night, while part of the road along the Salthill promenade was closed to traffic.
The advance warning of the intense storm depression approaching the west from the Atlantic meant that some primary and secondary schools in Galway city and county and in parts of Mayo, Sligo and Donegal either closed early or did not open at all yesterday.
Several major industries in Galway city, including the medical device multinational Medtronic, cancelled last night's evening shifts, while Leisureland swimming pool remained closed all day because of the risk of glass breaking in the high winds.
Galway Airport was affected by the cancellation of a number of regional flights scheduled by Aer Arann and there were no ferry services to the Aran islands and to Tory island in Co Donegal.
Wind speeds of 97 m.p.h. were reported at Belmullet, Co Mayo, while gusts of 90 m.p.h. were recorded in Galway harbour yesterday afternoon.
A 60 m.p.h. gust partly demolished a wall on a stretch of motorway on the west side of Galway city near Ballybrit racecourse, while there were reports of trees blown down on secondary roads and of some structural damage to outhouses on farmland. A ship which left Galway port at 3.30 a.m. yesterday was forced to take shelter off Black Head at the mouth of Galway Bay.
The ESB said that up to 7,000 consumers lost power in pockets across the west and north-west yesterday. Areas affected included Oranmore and Clifden, Co Galway; Achill island and Westport, Co Mayo; and Carrickfin, Kilcar and Kincasslagh, Co Donegal. A falling tree narrowly missed an ESB repair crew working in severe conditions near Ballynahinch.
Most of the damage was caused by debris hitting low-voltage lines, while there had been one or two cases of lightning strikes in Mayo, according to an ESB spokesman. He expected power to be restored to most homes by last night but said that several hundred houses might still be without electricity early today.
In east Galway, farmers have had to cope with heavy flooding of land, while one lane of the main Galway-Dublin road was closed for a time shortly after 10.30 a.m. yesterday near the village of Kilreekil.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Martin, kept his commitment to visit Ballinasloe yesterday afternoon in spite of the forecast and flooding of the River Suck several days ago.
