Storm Bert's Fury: Widespread Flooding and Power Outages Cripple Ireland's West Coast

A number of roads are closed across the county following the impact of Storm Bert. The ferocity of Storm Bert has left a trail of destruction across Ireland's western coastline, bringing with it widespread flooding, power outages, and impassable roads. From County Mayo to County Donegal, communities are grappling with the aftermath of the severe storm, highlighting the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events. The deluge of rain and strong winds, coupled with melting snow in higher areas, overwhelmed drainage systems, leading to significant flooding in numerous towns and villages. The impact has been particularly severe in areas such as Killybegs, County Donegal, where many parts of the town were submerged overnight, with the flooding attributed to a fallen tree blocking a nearby river. Flood water surged through Market Street, requiring emergency services personnel to work tirelessly through the night to assist locals and reduce water levels. The scene was chaotic, with homes and businesses inundated, causing significant property damage and disruption to daily life. The scale of devastation is evident in the numerous road closures reported across multiple counties.

Impassable Roads and Landslides in Mayo

The N59 Westport to Leenane road is closed due to flooding at Erriff Bridge, while the R335 Ballinrobe to Westport Road is also closed due to flooding at the Railway Bridge. Further south, the R335 Louisburgh to Aasleagh Falls is closed at Glenkeen Farm and on the Louisburgh side of Aaslagh Falls. The N59 is also affected, with flooding making passage hazardous at Judge’s roundabout and Cathedral Road in Ballina. Surface water has closed the North Mall at Westport Post Office. Landslides added to the chaos, with the L1403 Keenagh to Newport road and the L14035 Glendavoolagh road completely impassable. The R330 Ballinrobe to Westport Road also succumbed to the flooding at Railway Bridge, further compounding the transportation challenges. Midwest Radio provides up-to-date information on road closures in County Mayo.

Killybegs Flood Emergency

The impact of Storm Bert was particularly severe in Killybegs. Many parts of the town were submerged overnight, with the flooding understood to have been caused by a fallen tree blocking a nearby river. Flood water was seen flowing through Market Street, and emergency services worked through the night to assist locals and reduce the water levels. In response to the crisis, Fine Gael election candidate John McNulty announced that the Government would be releasing funds from the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to aid those affected by the floods. He expressed his sorrow and relief at the availability of these funds. Pat the Cope Gallagher, a local representative, has also contacted the government to request immediate financial support for those impacted by the devastating flooding. He stressed the need to activate this financial program quickly. Pictures and videos circulating on social media paint a grim picture of the extensive damage incurred.

Clare County's Flooding Crisis

Clare County Council reported that the N67 north of Lisdoonvarna is impassable due to flooding caused by torrential rain and melting snow. A council spokesperson confirmed the closure of this vital roadway. Several roads in North Clare are also underwater and impassable to standard vehicles. The R476 Corofin Road is only passable with larger vehicles. Meanwhile, the road between Kilnamona and Mauricemills is entirely blocked, and many local roads in the Kilnamona and Inagh area are similarly flooded. The scale of the flooding underscores the severity of the weather event and the urgent need for repairs.

Galway's Extensive Damage

Storm Bert's impact extended to Galway, with reports of heavy flooding and power outages throughout the county, particularly in the Clifden area and along the N59. It is reported that seven houses were flooded in the area. Further road closures were confirmed in the north of the county, in Belclare, Kilconly, and outside Athenry, causing significant travel disruptions. Thousands of homes lost power as a result of the storm, with ESB Networks reporting at least 30 power outages across Connemara, affecting more than three and a half thousand homes, farms, and businesses. This has caused widespread disruption across the county. They also issued a warning that further outages are expected throughout the weekend. A subsequent Status Yellow wind warning for several western counties, including Galway, highlights the continuing risk of adverse weather.

Limerick's Impassable Roads

County Limerick also faced severe flooding, particularly in Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West, where numerous roads were blocked, making them impassable. Roads connecting Dromcollogher to Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale to Athea, Abbeyfeale to Listowel, and Newcastle West to Knockaderry were all severely affected. The River Feale burst its banks, causing extensive damage to the Abbeyfeale United football grounds. Minister Patrick O'Donovan reported a tremendous volume of water surging through the town, highlighting the severity of the flooding. He reassured the public that support would be provided through the Department of Social Protection, emphasizing the automatic provision of assistance to those impacted by the floods.

Sligo and Donegal's Devastating Aftermath

The north-west of Ireland has suffered significantly from Storm Bert. A number of roads in Donegal and Sligo are currently impassable due to fallen trees, debris and surface water. In Donegal, Bridge Street in Killybegs is completely flooded. The Barnesmore Gap was closed earlier, but has since reopened despite the risk of remaining icy patches. Several other roads, including the one between Drumcarin to Ardfarna in Bundoran, the Kinlough to Rossinver road, and the Belleek to Garrison road, are closed due to flooding. There's also a serious oil leak on the Ballyshannon to Belleek road. In Sligo, numerous roads are affected, including the N59, R284, R293 and various others, all experiencing significant flooding, fallen trees and debris. The severity of the damage has been severe, making many roads impassable for both vehicles and pedestrians. Authorities are working tirelessly to address the situation. Emergency Services were and remain deployed to assist those affected and clear roads. The extent of the damage to infrastructure is still under assessment.

Isle of Man Road Closures

The Isle of Man also faced severe weather conditions from Storm Bert, resulting in several road closures. The police announced additional closures due to extensive flooding. The Glen Helen river overflowed its banks, which is why the road between the Cronk Y Voddy straight and the Poortown Road Junction was closed. The A3 Douglas Road in Kirk Michael was shut, along with the section to its junction with Barregarrow. These closures are in place until further notice. Storm Bert's heavy rain and strong winds caused significant disruption and damage to the island's infrastructure, requiring emergency services to tackle tree branches, debris and flooding issues that obstructed roads and damaged properties. The continuing bad weather means that additional disruption could happen over the next few days.

Roscommon's Flooding and Power Outages

County Roscommon experienced significant flooding and power outages after Storm Bert. Numerous roads faced severe flooding, including the Cloonfower to Ballinlough road, which is impassable. The Ballinlough to Castlerea road is passable with extreme caution. The Castleplunkett to Castlerea road is also heavily flooded. A large flood also blocked part of the N5. Flooding in Frenchpark, Ballinlough, Boyle, Roscommon Town, and South Roscommon has caused considerable disruption. Businesses in Boyle were impacted by power outages, but power has been largely restored. The ESB crews worked tirelessly throughout the night and continued to work to restore power to all areas after high winds led to outages affecting thousands of homes, farms, and businesses. Further outages are expected.

A Community Pulls Together

A community centre in Braddan is helping people keep warm this winter, highlighting the spirit of community during challenging times. The collective effort to support those affected by the storm's devastation is a testament to the resilience of communities. This resilience across all affected areas is a testament to the strength of the community spirit. The government issued a fresh weather warning for the coming days, urging residents to take precautions to stay safe.