Misery continues as storms sweep in
Met Éireann issued a severe storm yesterday which remains in force until midday today.
In the west Clare village of Quilty six fishing boats sank as winds reached between gale force seven and nine along the Clare coast.
Yesterday, the ESB put more than 1,000 of its network staff on standby to deal with power cuts caused by early strong winds.
Repair crews managed to restore power to several thousand homes in Co Kerry but reports of further power cuts came in from other parts of the country throughout the night.
Up to 2,000 homes in Galway were without power last night after gales brought down power lines.
Two canoeists from Galway city had a lucky escape on Lough Corrib yesterday when a helicopter winched them to safety after they took shelter on one of the lake’s islands.
In Connemara, roads were blocked at Recess after several trees came down on the main roadway between Clifden and Galway city.
And a yachtsman had to be rescued off the Head of Kinsale after getting into difficulty.
Welshman Trevor Wilson was en route from Plymouth to Madeira in his 25-foot yacht, the Vowden, when a series of storms drove him off course. The Valentia Coastguard co-ordinated the rescue after receiving a call just after 10am.
“The lifeboat arrived on the scene at 11.57am to find the French fishing vessel, the Pluton, alongside the yacht.
“Unfortunately, they were unable to put a line to the yacht because of the weather,” he said.
Once the helicopter arrived the rescue was successful, but the yachtsman refused to be carried to land in the helicopter.
He told his rescuers he wanted to stay in the lifeboat to keep an eye on his yacht which was being towed back to Courtmacsherry.
“However, the weather was so bad that the tow line broke and now his yacht is floating around out at sea,” Mr Fahy said.
Mr Wilson was taken to Cork University Hospital were he was treated for injuries to his ribs and ams.
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