Met Éireann issue wind and rain warnings for Cork and Kerry

Cork County Council announces cancellation of 'Malloween' family event at Mallow Castle amid status yellow warnings

Flood water covers a park in North Dublin flooded after heavy rain overnight, with further weather warnings expected on Friday night.

Met Éireann has issued three separate weather warnings for Cork and Kerry that are threatening to wash out the final hours of the bank holiday weekend with a combination of torrential downpours and damaging gale-force winds.

The national forecaster has put the two southwestern counties on high alert, with conditions expected to remain highly volatile throughout Monday, as the country reels from the destructive aftermath of Storm Boelo, which left more than 40,000 homes and businesses without power over the weekend.

The hazardous conditions will begin in the early hours of Monday morning, with a status yellow rain warning coming into effect from 1am until 9am across Cork and Kerry.

Met Éireann has warned that a spell of heavy overnight rain will turn torrential at times, creating highly treacherous morning commute conditions and risks of localised spot flooding on low-lying regional roads.

The weather is expected to ease on Monday around midday, but Cork, Kerry, Galway and Mayo will be under a second yellow rain warning from 4pm until 10pm.

Potential impacts include difficult travelling conditions, localised flooding, and outdoor events possibly being impacted.

A status yellow wind warning is also to come into force from 5pm until midnight on Monday in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.

Potential impacts include debris, loose objects displaced, difficult driving and cycling conditions, large coastal waves, and some fallen trees and branches.

In a public safety statement, Cork County Council urged the public to map out their journeys carefully, noting that multiple weather warnings will overlap during the peak bank holiday return window. 

Potential impacts cited by meteorologists include flying debris, the displacement of loose outdoor objects, large coastal waves overtopping piers, and a high risk of fallen trees or branches on rural routes.

'Malloween' cancelled

Cork County Council also announced the cancellation of the highly anticipated "Malloween" family event at Mallow Castle.

The free, family-friendly festival was due to take place between 4pm and 7pm on the bank holiday Monday.

Local authority officials confirmed the decision was made in the interests of public safety following deteriorating weather forecasts and active weather warnings for the region.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, a spokesperson for Cork County Council said it "regrets to announce that the Halloween event at Mallow Castle, due to take place on Monday, 26 October 2026, has been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions forecast for the area.

"The decision has been made in the interests of public safety and following careful consideration of the weather warnings in place. 

"Cork County Council apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for their understanding."

AA Roadwatch has issued urgent travel advice for motorists heading home, reminding drivers to double their standard stopping distance to at least four seconds in wet conditions.

Road users are also urged to slow down and allow extra space for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, who can easily be blown off course by sudden, violent gusts. 

Motorists are strictly warned never to attempt driving through floodwaters if the depth is unknown, as less than 30cm of moving water is enough to float a standard car.

Householders across Munster and Connacht have been urged to secure garden furniture and loose property before the evening gales arrive.