Thousands without power as Storm Franklin hits Ireland

Nearly 30,000 homes and businesses are without power after Storm Franklin hit the island of Ireland.

It is the third storm to pass over the country in recent days, after Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice wreaked havoc.

Status orange wind warnings issued for parts of the north and north-west have now expired, but Met Eireann has warned that people can expect high winds and strong gusts over the course of the morning.

Met Eireann said gusts of more than 130kph were recorded in Co Galway and Co Donegal.

ESB confirmed on Monday morning that just over 29,000 customers were without power in the wake of the storm.

ESB crews and local council staff are assessing the extent of the damage, as the worst of the weather passes.

A yellow warning remains in place for the entirety of the Republic until later on Monday morning, while a yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland, issued by the Met Office, will stay in place until the early afternoon.

Parts of the country were still clearing up after Storm Eunice when the latest storm hit.

Deirdre Lowe, from Met Eireann, said: “It makes the impacts more risky. Structures have been weakened, tree roots have been weakened. There was a lot of fallen trees this morning, particularly in Donegal and Sligo.

“Certainly, one storm coming in after another. It’s due to a very strong jet stream over Ireland, which has persisted in the past week,” she told RTE radio.

She also warned that the country could see snow and sleet in the days to come.