High winds brought by Storm Franklin have taken their toll on one of Cork city's best-known landmarks - the cross on the roof of the Church of the Ascension in Gurranabraher.
The 15-foot-high cross, which can be widely seen on its site above the city, was damaged yesterday afternoon by the strong winds. The church was also forced to close for public safety reasons.
Fr Tomás Walsh told 96fm today that he got a call at around 4.30pm yesterday afternoon telling him that the cross was tilting and he called the fire brigade.
They deemed the church and surrounding area unsafe, directing it to be closed off until a structural steel report is carried out.
Fr Walsh said the church was built in 1955, and the cross was placed on it in 1962.
"It was well anchored and withstood many a worse storm," Fr Walsh said.
He did not know if any damage had been caused inside, as it was too windy and too dark to climb up the vertical ladder inside to check last night.
"The church is out of use for now, until it is declared safe by an engineer, which we are currently looking for," he said.
"I would hope that the church would be open in a day or two."
Meanwhile, Mayfield GAA say their main floodlit pitch has been badly damaged by the recent storms.
Chairman Sean McCarthy says the netting structure, one of the cross poles and at least two of the floodlights have been damaged.
