County Clare is cleaning up after Storm Darwin this morning – the worst weather to batter many areas of the county in many years.
Home and landowners will be surveying the damage from this morning, after winds yesterday peaked at 160 kilometres per hour at Shannon Airport yesterday, one of the highest of anywhere in Ireland.
It saw an Aer Arann plane to topple over there, while roofs were blown of sheds in places like Kilfenora and Ballynacally and slates to be blown off many homes and businesses in Ennis.
The storm also left 8400 Clare homes who have been left without power, with Sixmilebridge, Tulla, Kilkee, Spanish Point, Ennis, Lisdoonvarna and Kilmaley the worst-affected areas. ESB crews will be out in force from this morning carrying out repairs, and staff from Northern Ireland Electricity have been drafted in to help.
No major routes are closed this morning, though wintry storms have left roads in Ennis, the N85 from Ennistymon to Ennis and the M18 motorway in a very dangerous condition.
Debris is also an issue in many parts, while a number of street lights were not working this morning.
Irish Rail says its services from Ennis to Limerick and Athenry are not operational this morning – bus transfers are in place.
A number of schools are also closed – the following is the confirmed list.
St. Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla
St. Mochulla's Primary School in Tulla
Quin National School.
Kilmurry NS in Sixmilebridge
Scoil Mhuire Corrifin
Cratloe National School
Ruan National School
Kilnaboy National School
Doonbeg National School
Annagh National School, Miltown Malbay
Kilkee Community College
Clooney National School
Connolly National School
Crusheen national school
