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Storm wreaks havoc across county

 

Emergency services and Council staff are still facing difficult and gusty conditions as they continue to try to clear blocked roads caused by fallen trees during last night's Storm Eleanor.

Crews are understood to be clearing blockages at Cornadarragh near Belturbet, at Ashgrove near Baker’s Bridge, and Drummullen at Farnham outside Cavan Town this morning. Up to 12 trees were reported down in the Farnham area last night at the height of the storm, including one large tree down on the Cavan side of 14 cottages.

Motorists are being warned to avoid these routes if possible.

The N54 at Cloverhill and the Killeshandra-Crossdoney Rd meanwhile are open to one lane only, but again should be avoided if possible, particularly by HGVs.

The Met Eireann Yellow Weather Warning, of “strong and very gusty westerly winds” remains in place until later this afternoon, Wednesday, January 3. The national weather service have said that further damaging gusts are possible.

Cavan County Council issued a alert last night of reports from a number of housing estates across the county that roof tiles are becoming dislodged and falling from buildings. They asked too for people to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary to go outside, and power has been returned to most homes which suffered outages last night resulting from the storm.

Other damage reported last night included an electricity pole leaning across road at the Church of Ireland in Arvagh, with Ballyconnell Fire Brigade called to respond to a tree down on the Ballyconnell-Carrigallen Road, as well as on the R205 Ballyconnell-Ballinamore Road.

A unit from Dowra Fire Service was also called to attend to a fallen tree and low-hanging phone lines at Ballinaglera Community Centre, and Cootehill Fire Brigade dealt with a tree down on the Cootehill to Ballybay Road at Lisnalong, just across the Cavan-Monaghan county boundary.

Winds of 55-65 km/hr with gusts of 90-110 km/hr caused further trees and phone lines to fall at Cloneary near Templeport, at Drumroragh near Ballyjamesduff, at Butlersbridge to Cloverhill Road near The Olde Post Inn, and a road traffic collision caused a blockage on the N3 on the Dublin side at Virginia last night.