A lightning strike damages houses and the national school in Crusheen, County Clare.
At least ten houses and a school in Crusheen in County Clare had to be evacuated early today after lightening struck a tree and caused extensive damage during an electrical storm.
A severe weather warning remains in place and Met Eireann has said that heavy showers and high winds will continue until Tuesday.
Christine O'Doherty and her sons were getting up when they heard a loud bang. She came downstairs and surveyed a scene of destruction,
The house is destroyed.
Not far away an eighty year old tree which had also been struck by a lightning bolt exploded and shattered windows in the national school. Thankfully the building was empty, and as Gerry Kelly tells RTÉ News
Splinters from the tree came right across the playground. Some of them two and three foot long.
Thousands of homes were still without power today following the storm. The ESB (Electricity Supply Board) have been busy restoring power lines area manager Mark Maloney says they,
We would hope to have everyone back by close of business this evening.
Cold wintry conditions are continuing in many parts of the country, with temperatures forecast to fall below zero again tonight.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 January 2009. The reporter is Teresa Mannion.
