Met Éireann issued a national weather alert last night, warning of very strong winds, driving rain and the possibility of floods.

Strong winds and high tides are expected to cause further flooding problems in coming days.

Met Éireann is expected to issue a red alert as gale force winds of up to 130km/h, high tides, rain, sleet, hail, and thunder hit the country this weekend.

Clare County Council has issued a flood and storm warning for the entire county in advance of severe weather conditions that are expected during the next few days.

Homes and business owners are beginning to count the cost as the latest 120km/h winds batter the west and south coasts.

A vigilante road worker has struck at one of Ireland’s most dangerous traffic junctions — painting a homemade zebra crossing in place.

Clare County Council is trying to identify the source of a spillage that caused traffic chaos on one of the country’s busiest roads.

Local authorities said yesterday they have already stockpiled thousands of tonnes of rock salt in preparation for a “hard winter”.

A Co Clare couple have spoken of their shock at being told of plans to demolish their home of almost 50 years to facilitate the construction of a controversial road.

Clare County Council has come under fire after opting to spend up to €100,000 on an Environmental Impact Study to assess whether or not to demolish two 19th century protected homes.

Contentious plans for a new €6 million pier in Doolin will not now be complete until 2014, at least — three years behind schedule.

SURFERS’ opposition to contentious plans for a €6 million pier at Doolin has helped push the completion date for the project back to 2013.

SURFERS have thrown into doubt Clare County Council’s plans for a €6 million pier at Doolin for summer 2012.

CLARE Co Council has received a setback in its plans to construct a €6 million pier at Doolin.

CONTENTIOUS plans to construct a €6 million pier at Doolin yesterday received the unanimous approval of Clare’s councillors in spite of concerns expressed by surfers.

FAILURE to demolish two protected 19th century buildings in Clare due to local opposition resulted in the council forfeiting €300,000 in funding from its roads budget.

A LOCAL authority has lodged revised plans for a contentious €6 million pier development in response to surfers’ concerns for ‘world-class’ waves at the location.

THE Government has approved a raft of new flood defence measures for Ennis, but fears remained yesterday that the proposals are too late for Clare’s county town if more flooding occurs.

A VICTIM of last year’s winter flooding, Susan Walsh, yesterday welcomed an announcement that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is to spend €135,000 aimed at preventing further flooding in Ennis, Co Clare.

AS homes were in evacuated in Ennis during last November’s flooding, a flooding expert warned Clare County Council last November that a number of other housing estates below a certain level in the Ennis area “will almost certainly be in trouble and unlikely to be protectable” from flooding.