Thousands face water usage restrictions ahead of weekend heatwave

Restrictions are in place in Cork to conserve water in the Abbeystrowry Reservoir 'due to the increased summer demand on the supply and ongoing dry weather'

The public enjoys the warm weather at the beach at Garretstown. However, conservation orders are in place in seven counties, with seven more counties experiencing "drought" conditions.

As Ireland heads into a heatwave this weekend, with temperatures as high as 26C, thousands of homes around the country are either without a mains water supply or face nightly usage restrictions.

Water supplies across Munster are among the worst hit. Conservation orders are in place in seven counties, with seven more counties experiencing "drought" conditions.