Wintry winds and rain wash out the weekend

THE Government and pro-referendum supporters had a Nice day yesterday as the country braced itself for a winter of discontent — weather wise.

Gale force gusts lashed coastal regions with pounding rainstorms putting many low lying areas on flood alert overnight. Up to 50-70 mm of rainfall is expected over a three day period from yesterday.

Over 71,000 people, however, were well wrapped up for the test between Ireland and Australia in Croke Park where the foul weather was more of a talking point than the foul play from the two match series.

Countrywide, the sporting calendar was a major casualty of the weather with county football and hurling finals in Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Local authorities workers cleared a fallen tree which impeded traffic for a short period on the main N71 in Innishannon, Co Cork, while a roof was ripped off a building in Ballylangley, near Fermoy. Met Éireann issued a flood warning and advised of heavy rainfall and strong easterly winds. Sea traffic, up to late last night, was unaffected by Irish Sea storms.

Persistent rainfall led to temperatures falling to four or five degrees in north eastern counties although, by nightfall conditions in the south were much milder with temperatures no lower than 11 degrees.

Met Éireann advised of further spells of heavy rain for the next three days with the general outlook, cold and windy.