- The clean up continues today following the "unprecedented" damage caused by Storm Éowyn on Friday.
- 402,000 homes and businesses are heading into another night without power.
- he ESB has restored electricity to 366,000 customers. It's asking people to stay away from fallen wires.
- Minister for Housing James Browne says the National Emergency Coordination Group is monitoring the situation.
- A 20-year-old man who died after a tree fell on his car during the storm in Donegal has been named.
10.30pm
Around 353,000 ESB Networks customers are still without power across the country tonight.
The company has restored electricity to 415,000 homes, farms and businesses impacted by Storm Éowyn.
More status yellow weather warnings will come into effect overnight.
Storm Herminia is due to make landfall tomorrow.
It won't be as severe as yesterday's storm, but the public is urged to take extra care, given the clean-up operation from Storm Éowyn is not yet complete.
9.10pm
Families in Ireland have described the devastating damage to their homes after Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc throughout the country.
Shane Egan, 33, from Ballinasloe, Co Galway said his family was lucky their house did not collapse on top of them as record-breaking winds caused destruction and power shortages across Ireland.
Mr Egan, a train driver, was in Manchester at a football match with his oldest son on Thursday night when he received a message from his wife Emma who described hearing an almighty crash.
“My wife was in the house with my other two sons and at about three o’clock in the morning, she heard a big crash and the house shook,” Mr Egan told the PA news agency.
“She texted me again at five in the morning saying, ‘Shane, I’m so scared’.
“The doors in the house were opening and slamming. The wardrobes were moving, everything was shaking.”
Ms Egan, 35, who was unable to go outside to assess the damage that night due to safety concerns, received a knock on her door on Friday morning from a neighbour telling her her house was “falling down”.
She went outside to discover a pile of bricks and slates on the ground after the gable end of their home had given way.
8.40pm
The Government is set to provide support to those counting the cost of Storm Éowyn.
More than 400,000 remained without power and 120,000 without water across Ireland on Saturday following record-setting wind speeds.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said every effort is being made to restore power and water supplies, describing the destruction caused as “unprecedented” with 768,000 without power at the peak on Friday.
One man was killed during the storm. Kacper Dudek, 20, died when a tree fell on his car in Co Donegal early on Friday morning as Storm Éowyn started its destructive course across Ireland.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Defence Forces were assisting ESB Network with helicopters to help restore power.
He said the Civil Defence is also on standby across the country.
7.30pm
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place tonight in the west and northwest.
There will be scattered snow showers in Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and Mayo.
Met Éireann says the showers will become isolated overnight with icy stretches.
The alert lasts for those four counties until 9am tomorrow morning.
6.20pm
402,000 homes and businesses are heading into another night without power.
The ESB has restored electricity to 366,000 customers. It's asking people to stay away from fallen wires.
Thousands are also still affected by water and communications outages.
Storm Herminia is set to bring wet and windy conditions tomorrow and Monday.
Minister for Housing James Browne says the National Emergency Coordination Group is monitoring the situation.
"We do have some yellow wind warnings coming in over the next 24 hours, and they are strong to gale force winds, but their impact may be more severe than would usually be the case because there's a lot of trees and structures that are quite vulnerable after the red warnings over the last few days."
5.45pm
There's a yellow warning for snow and ice in the west and northwest from 8pm tonight.
Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo will be affected until 9am tomorrow morning.
Met Éireann says scattered snow showers will become isolated overnight with icy stretches.
5pm
120,000 people across the country are without water this evening.
The worst affected areas are in the northwest of the country, particularly the Galway/Mayo area.
Uisce Éireann crews continue to monitor the impact of Storm Éowyn on water supplies across the country.
There has been disruption to supply due to widespread power outages impacting on water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping station and other network assets.
Incident management processes have been stood up and crews are working to restore supplies.
4.30pm
The estimated effect of Storm Éowyn on phone users is the largest in recording history, according to the Commission for Communications Regulation.
However, Comreg added the impact has appeared to have peaked.
A spokesperson says a total of 40 per cent of all phone users in Ireland are affected by outages caused by Storm Éowyn.
Operators have indicated the most impacted areas are Galway, Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Laois, Sligo and Westmeath.
4.12pm
In a statement, Dublin City Council said: "Dublin City Council would like to announce that all its services have now reopened following Storm Eowyn.
"In line with public safety messages, our services were closed yesterday and where appropriate, staff were instructed to work from home.
"Following a number of assessments carried out earlier today, the decision was made that it was now safe to return to normal opening hours.
"The City Council’s Crisis Management Team would like to thank all staff for their co-operation and assistance, in particular the Council’s outdoor workforce who have spent the day clearing trees from 152 locations across the city."
3.47pm
Filling stations across the country are seeing large queues forming for fuel in the wake of Storm Éowyn.
Clean up and repair operations continue across the island today as thousands remain without power and water following the record-breaking wind speeds.
Cars clogged up the main road in Kells, Co Meath, on their quest for fuel today, as many smaller filling stations in small towns and villages across the country are still without power.
Many shops and filling stations are only taking cash and, with bad phone signals and limited access to ATMs and generators, huge queues are being seen at the sites that are up and running.
There is nothing like a storm to bring Irish people together, and some shops are playing the role of the saviour by offering to boil water, charge phones, and provide free wifi use.
One woman in Meath explained how her family and friends were flocking to her home to shower and fill bottles of water, as she was the only one in close proximity who was getting her water from a well and not the main water system.
"Once one of their messages finally got through, they lost signal see, they were asking had we still got water. I said we had, and said the generator was working fine," she explained.
"So they all came up and had their showers and a cup of tea and filled big bottles with water for drinking and for washing dishes.
"We're the lucky ones though. We're lucky to have a generator, and to be getting our water from the well. I can't imagine the hardship."
3pm
Drivers in the North are advised to take care on the roads due to icy conditions expected tonight.
Many roads across Northern Ireland are still impassable, with fallen trees and power lines.
The PSNI says it's clearing debris to make roads safe and is restoring power after Storm Éowyn caused widespread disruption.
There is a yellow warning for wind across the North tomorrow from 10am until 7pm.
2.30pm
Status yellow warnings have been issued for most of the country, ahead of the arrival of Storm Herminia, which is due to bring heavy winds and rain tomorrow and Monday.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group met again this afternoon to assess the situation - and the Government's means-tested Humanitarian Assistance Scheme will be made available to those who need it.
1.20pm
Iarnród Éireann has said its crews on Sligo and Westport lines are reporting “literally hundreds” of fallen trees, and are working around the clock to clear them.
Power supply issues for level crossings are present on both lines also.
There are bus transfers in place at the moment on the Sligo/Mayo lines.
Our crews on Sligo and Westport lines reporting “literally hundreds” of fallen trees, and are working around the clock to clear. Power supply issues for level crossings on both lines also.
Our thanks to all working to restore remaining lines affected. #StormÉowyn @TFIupdates pic.twitter.com/a40qYZZRrj
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) January 25, 2025
Galway to Heuston services are facing delays due to power outages at level crossings.
Meanwhile, there are no rail services between Connolly and Drogheda/Howth Stations due to major works.
Bus transfers and alterations are in place for Dart, Northern Commuter, and Enterprise services.
1pm
ESB Networks has issued a public safety message: If you come across fallen wires, low-hanging wires, or any damage to the electricity network, do not touch or approach them as they are live and extremely dangerous.
These exposed wires can be reported by calling 1800 372 999.
An Important Public Safety Message: If you come across fallen wires, low-hanging wires, or any damage to the electricity network, do not touch or approach them as they are live and extremely dangerous. Report it by calling 1800 372 999.#StaySafe #StayClear pic.twitter.com/XB1HW4K6f8
— ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) January 25, 2025
There are approximately 460,000 people across the country still without power this afternoon.
ESB Networks said it has restored power to 308,000 homes, farms, and businesses impacted by Storm Éowyn.
ESB Networks manager Brian Tapely said they were aware the storm was coming so all emergency crews were ready to go.
Met Éireann has issued yellow snow/ice, rain, and wind warnings for different parts of the country between today and tomorrow.
⚠️The following status yellow snow/ice, wind & rain warnings have been issued. ⚠️
These warnings commence today, 25/01 and tomorrow 26/01, at varied times.
Please see the effected counties and validity times below.
To stay updated, please visit: https://t.co/3041XHjphi pic.twitter.com/uRfAW8DAVK
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 25, 2025
Clare County Council said crews continue to work through the day to make routes passible again in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.
The council urged the public to continue to exercise caution when out and about over the weekend, and "be aware that trees, debris and fallen wires remain on some roads".
11am
Subject to local road conditions and power supplies, An Post said it will make national deliveries today.
Wherever possible, post offices are open for business as normal from 9am – 1pm today.
However, some post offices are awaiting power reconnection, particularly in areas of the west and midlands but will open later if possible.
All social welfare benefit payments usually payable at the Post Office on Friday will be available today and next week.
10.15am
Met Éireann have issued a status yellow wind warning for most of the country tomorrow.
A status yellow rain warning is also in place for counties Carlow, Wicklow and the South of the country.
⚠️The following status yellow wind & rain warnings have been issued.⚠️
These warnings commence tomorrow, Sunday 26/01/25, at varied times.
Please see the effected counties and validity times below.
To stay updated, please visit: https://t.co/3041XHjphi pic.twitter.com/SRuZnthAmS
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 25, 2025
9.20am
Galway City Council will be continuing the clean up today after the storm.
It is appealing to people to stay away from fallen electricity wires and downed trees.
It is also warning drivers the roads may be icy this morning due to low temperatures overnight.
540,000 customers are without power, while some 250,000 homes and businesses are without electricity in Northern Ireland.
ESB crews began repair works from first light today, with warnings that it could take a number of days before power is fully restored.
Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann said that more than 130,000 people are without water and and the company last night warned that supplies for a further 750,000 people were at risk.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said his government "will fully assess the situation in the coming days to see what supports we can offer people and businesses caught up in the aftermath of this storm".
He said he was grateful for the efforts of multiple state agencies to "help those most in need", and said the government understands how difficult it is for homes and businesses across the island.
8.30am
The clean up continues this morning after Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc across the island.
Met Éireann has predicted a cold morning with icy stretches and also with the risk of some sleet and snow showers, adding that there will be isolated thunderstorms.
This may hamper efforts to restore power the the thousands still left without light, heat, and water.
Frost & icy patches this morning & scattered wintry showers in the north & west🥶🌦️
Showery rain will track eastwards this afternoon & evening as southerly winds increase moderate to fresh & gusty🌦️🌬️
Further showers will follow
Falls of sleet, hail & isolated thunderstorms⛈️ pic.twitter.com/LWmVxKwOL7
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 25, 2025
Trees have been uprooted - roofs peeled off - and 20-year-old man died when a tree fell on his car near Raphoe in Co Donegal.
The storm, which saw gusts of 183km/h recorded at Mace Hard, Co Galway, left close to one million homes, farms and businesses without power across the island at one stage.
Connacht GAA’s €3.1 million Air Dome centre of excellence in Co Mayo was completely destroyed, while a seasonal ice rink in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, was also severely damaged along with the roof of St Joseph’s Church in Boyle, Co Roscommon.
ESB Networks said the storm brought “unprecedented, widespread and extensive damage” to electricity infrastructure and that restoration could take up to a week in the worst-affected areas.
About 540,000 homes were still without power as of Friday night. An additional 280,000 in Northern Ireland were also without electricity.
Restoration will continue “at first light” on Saturday morning, and “we expect to make good progress restoring supplies over the weekend and into next week”, a spokesman for ESB Networks said.
About 138,000 people across the country had no water on Friday night, with supplies for a further 750,000 people are at risk due to power outages at treatment plants and pumping stations.
The impacts were being felt nationwide, with areas across Kerry, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, Galway, Donegal, Longford and Laois worst affected.
The cost of the damage wreaked by Storm Éowyn is likely to exceed €100 million for the insurance industry, judging from past storms, experts have indicated.
They have also predicted the growing prevalence of such events will likely lead to higher premiums for consumers.
Some parts of the country also faced communication difficulties, with little mobile coverage in addition to power outages.
