Gusts of up to 130km/h hit coasts as power lost in west and south-west

Met Eireann has weather alerts in place across the country.

The west coast is affected by an orange alert, with gale force winds gusting at up to 130 kilometres an hour, while a yellow alert is in effect for the rest of the country.

Met Eireann is forecasting spot flooding and thundery downpours for the rest of the day.

Forecaster Siobhan Ryan says the entire country will be hit.

People are being advised not to go out on exposed cliffs or in coastal areas and not to partake in water sports.

Declan Geoghegan, Operations Manager with the Irish Coastguard, says trying to take pictures of bad weather conditions is extremely dangerous.

Elsewhere, the ESB is working to restore power to homes in parts of the west and south-west with Gort in Co. Galway and Templemore in North Tipperary worst affected.