Homes and businesses in the south and southeast are again at risk of flooding this weekend with Met Éireann forecasting heavy rains across the region.
Mallow and Fermoy in Co Cork sustained extensive damage last weekend, likely to cost many millions of euro, due to the river Blackwater flooding. The Blackwater, the Lee and smaller rivers in Cork and across the southwest could cause flooding again this weekend.
Rains are also predicted to be heavy in south Leinster, which could also put the already swollen rivers of the Barrow, Nore and Suir in danger of flooding.
"It will largely be the south and southwest - Munster and parts of south Leinster - where there would be concern about flooding," Met Éireann forecaster Michael McAuliffe said.
Rainfall amounts are likely to reach 50mm, with 80mm to 90mm a possibility in the south and southwest.
"It's the cumulative effects of the persistent rain that is causing the danger. It's in the areas that are already water logged, where the water table is quite high, that the most risk of flooding exists."
The weather already dealt Cork a blow yesterday, with high winds blamed for the inability of the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, to attend a function in Cork.
Ms Harney cancelled plans to attend the launch of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind new strategic plan yesterday morning, citing poor weather conditions as the reason.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Defence told The Irish Times that a Government Lear jet flight from Baldonnel aerodrome to Cork had been unable to proceed due to gusts which exceeded the jet's safety limits.
She could not say what other flights from the aerodrome, if any, were cancelled yesterday but confirmed that some helicopter training had also been suspended.
Winds are due to ease over the weekend, with conditions becoming considerably calmer tomorrow and into Monday.