Clonmel in Tipperary, Army had to sandbag many homes
Dozens of families were evacuated
Ireland is being battered by storm-force winds and driving rain this evening, with many parts of the country reporting flooding. Some of the worst effected areas include Waterford, South Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow. The harbour and beach area in Bray, County Wicklow, has flooded and is impassable to traffic. Army personnel have sandbagged a number of homes in Clonmel, County Tipperary, as the heavy rains continue to raise the water level.
More than a dozen families have also been evacuated from their homes in the Hillview Estate in Waterford City and some roads around the city and county are now impassable. Localised flooding is reported across the region as hundreds of civil defence members and dozens of fire brigade units attempt to unblock drains and make roads passable.
In Dublin, there is serious flooding on the Howth Road in Clontarf, Morehampton Road, Kilbarrack Road and at the Strawberry beds in Lucan. Roads around the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre have also been effected. Gardaí in Tallaght have advised motorists to avoid the Belgard Road and Tallaght bypass.
Earlier, several areas in County Cork were hit by severe flooding. Dozens of homes and businesses at the Spa and Bridge Street in Mallow were flooded and several people had to be rescued from upstairs rooms. Floods there have subsided, however, and the Spa and Bridge Street areas are now passable. The emergency services worked to alleviate flood damage in Mallow from 9am today.
At Fermoy, further downstream on the river Blackwater, Gardaí issued a preliminary flood warning to the owners of homes and businesses situated along the river bank in the town. While there is no flooding there at the moment, it is expected that it will be effected later tonight. Several areas of Cork City and suburbs were also been hit by flooding, including Rutland Street and Victoria Cross in the city centre. Douglas village, Togher at the Sarsfield Road roundabout, the Viaduct on the Innishannon road, Grange Road, Waterfall Road and the Melburn-to-Bishopstown road were also effected.
A mudslide has closed the Rosslare-Dublin railway line. The slide, which was caused by severe flooding, closed the line near Enniscorthy. No one was injured in the incident but Iarnród Éireann passengers have been bussed to their destination. The line is closed until further notice.
