20,000 homes without power

Thousands of ESB customers are without power today following severe storms.

Engineers are working in harsh conditions to restore electricity before Christmas.

There are faults logged across the country with Galway the worst affected with 17,000 homes in the city and county are currently without power.

Elsewhere, the Island of Inishmore was left completely without power this morning.

Valencia Coastguard, along with Shannon Coastguard helicopter have helped to dispatch an ESB crew to the Island.