Thousands without power after storm
ALMOST twelve thousand homes were left without power in Wexford as Storm Brendan wreaked havoc across the county yesterday afternoon.
During two hours of high winds and heavy rain significant tree falls were reported in Castlebridge, Camolin and Enniscorthy, causing traffic disruption and outages in the surrounding areas.
The N30 was closed in both directions between Enniscorthy and Clonroche for two hours as a major operation to remove a tree was undertaken by emergency services. A fallen tree on the Castlebridge to Crossabeg Road caused similar disruption while the Main Street in Camolin also suffered disruption while a tree was cleared.
In New Ross, Good Counsel College’s 800 plus students and staff were informed the school was closing at around noon as violent winds ripped through the town and throughout the district, with particularly strong winds reported along coastal communities.
Several trees were felled in the area with clearance works by council staff under way throughout the day. At around 3.20 p.m. a power outage occurred in the town, while there were reports of power outages throughout the district.
According to the ESB, a total of 12,000 homes had been disconnected by the time the worst of the storm had passed, the majority in the South Wexford area.
‘A broad swathe of the southern part of the county was hit hardest,’ said a spokesperson. ‘We’re getting crews mobilised where it is safe to do so and are looking to get power restored to those homes as soon as possible.
‘Customers should check for updates to their service on our website.’
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has urged motorists and cyclists to exercise caution as the fallout from the storm is dealt with.
‘Particular caution is advised on the coasts: a Status Red Marine Warning for gales is in place for all coastal waters, with a significant risk of coastal flooding,’ said a spokesperson.
‘Watch out for wind-blown debris on the roads, and give extra space to vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Strong cross-winds may affect control of your vehicle so slow down.
‘Only drive through standing water if you’re sure it’s not too deep for your car.’
As a result of the storm all Port of Wexford shipping movements were cancelled yesterday with operations expected to resume at first light this morning.