Campers pack up ahead of Storm Ellen, violent storm-force winds expected from 9pm

Obi Madichie and Darren O’Callaghan Members of the Kerry Civil Defence were out in force in Tralee filling emergency sandbags for business owners and home owners around Kerry ahead of Storm Ellen. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD

Holidaymakers are leaving campsites along exposed southern coastal areas as Storm Ellen bears down on the country.

Campers have heeded the calls to leave, packed up their tents and cut short their staycations, after authorities issued severe weather warnings for the entire country, and red wind warnings for Cork, with destructive gale to violent storm-force winds forecast to batter the country from around 9pm.