Campaigners have demanded the reopening of a memorial park to Irish patriots which was closed just a year after tens of thousands of euro in public money was poured into upgrading it.

THE response by local authorities in the Dublin region to the torrential rain and flooding earlier this week has been branded “inadequate” by junior environment minister, Brian Hayes.

HOMEOWNERS are today trying to assess the damage to their buildings following the worst rain to hit the east coast in living memory.

Transport services in and around the capital were returning to normal this morning following yesterday's flood disruption, with commuters however still experiencing some delays.

Gardaí in the Dublin area this morning advised motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel due to severe flooding last night but also said flood waters had started to recede.

The body of an elderly woman is being recovered from the River Liffey in Dublin's city centre.

An 84-year-old man has died two days after he was struck by a car crossing a street in Macroom, Co Cork, gardaí said today.

A woman in her 70s has died after losing control of her car on a road in Co Cork last night.

Gardaí in Dublin have issued are appeal for witnesses to a road accident this morning which left a woman in a critical condition in hospital.