25,000 Irish Households Without Power

The biting cold snap and stormy conditions have knocked out electricity supplies for around 25,000 Irish householders this morning.

Heavy rain, snow and gale force winds lashed the State last night and this morning and made driving conditions hazardous in parts of the country.

Northern Ireland Electricity says 450 staff have been drafted in to help restore power, including several ESB crews from the Republic.

Areas affected include Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Portlaoise and Tullamore as well as parts of the east coast.

ESB spokesperson Dennis O'Leary said that 25,000 homes are without electricity including 5,000 in Donegal and 10,000 in Cavan/Monaghan.

ESB emergency crews are currently working to repair the damage.

Mr O'Leary said he was hopeful that power would be restored to many of those affected by lunchtime and to all by nightfall.

Meanwhile, around 50,000 Almost 50,000 homes, businesses and schools are without power as a result of damage caused to power lines by snow and high winds in Northern Ireland.

The worst affected areas are Omagh and Dungannon in Co Tyrone and Coleraine, Co Derry. NIE said there were currently 600 individual faults across the network.

AA Roadwatch this morning described some conditions as impassable, with instances of flooding around the State, such as at the Frenchfort road in Oranmore.

The AA also asked drivers to take care on approach from the Galway to Ennis road and the Dublin road. Gardai are still advising extreme care on secondary routes around Cavan Town and Bailieboro while the Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap are both impassable due to snow and ice.

Met Eireann has this morning issued a weather warning, saying that northwest winds will reach gale force today on all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea. The outlook for the coming week will see conditions turning noticeable milder by Easter Monday although heavy rain is expected on Monday night and during Tuesday.

(DW/GK)