‘Unprecedented’ clean-up post Ophelia as West Cork sighs with relief

It may not have looked it yesterday as people across West Cork surveyed the fallout from Hurricane Ophelia, but the area might have escaped the worst of the damage.

One local authority staff member helping to co-ordinate the clean-up said the area has been “very fortunate” the damage was not worse, while it also emerged that two local fire brigades responded to an incident on Monday when a tree fell on a car, but without causing serious injury. The incident occurred near Ballineen and was responded to fire brigades in Clonakilty and Dunmanway.

Work continued yesterday on clearing fallen trees from main transport routes and while some still caused an obstruction, such as on the Western Road in Clonakilty and on the outskirts of Rosscarbery and Leap, all main roads were expected to be fully cleared by last night.