Galway family airlifted to safety

A family of five were airlifted to safety during an early-morning rescue operation as flood waters surrounded their home.

An 87-year-old woman was among the occupants winched from the property near Gort, Co Galway, at 2.30am.

Motorists in Galway and Cork have also been warned to postpone all car journeys as rising waters block roads across the counties.

Elsewhere the Defence Forces has deployed 70 soldiers, 10 trucks and a boat to assist councils and local authorities dealing with the effects of flooding around the country.

Met Eireann said most places will be dry today but warned there will be more heavy rain over the weekend.