Hundreds without power as Storm Boelo begins to batter Galway
A Status Orange wind warning came into effect in Galway at 2pm on Saturday and will remain in force until 9am on Sunday, with Met Éireann expecting damage to power lines, fallen trees, large coastal waves, and dangerous travelling conditions
Hundreds of homes and businesses are without power across the county after Storm Boelo made landfall and began battering the west coast earlier this afternoon.
A number of coastal roads and public amenities have also been closed, while sandbags are being made available to the public in anticipation of severe flooding in certain areas of the city.
A Status Orange wind warning came into effect in Galway at 2pm on Saturday and will remain in force until 9am on Sunday, with Met Éireann expecting damage to power lines, fallen trees, large coastal waves, and dangerous travelling conditions.
Hundreds of premises are already without power with the worst of Storm Boelo yet to hit the county. More than 170 households in Connemara are currently without electricity, along with 208 in Athenry.
Other outages have resulted in 73 homes and businesses in Kilcolgan experiencing blackouts, along with 159 in Ballygar.
Salthill Prom was closed to the public from 2pm on Saturday and will remain closed until further notice with overtopping of waves and flooding anticipated in the area. Toft Car Park is also closed.
Silverstrand Road and car park has also been shut, along with Salthill car park, while Ballyloughane Beach Road is restricted to local access from Saturday until further notice.
Galway City Council has advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel for the duration of the severe weather event. The Coast Guard has also issued the advice: “Stay back, stay high, and stay dry.”
Merlin Woods and Barna Woods are closed to the public due to fears over falling trees. A section of the Rosshill Road adjacent to a wooded area has also been closed.
Galway City Museum shut its doors at 1pm on Saturday, and a flood barrier has been erected at the Spanish Arch.
Ferries to the Aran Islands have been cancelled due to the severe weather, with just one sailing taking place earlier on Saturday morning.
The Galway Senior Football Championship clash between Maigh Cuillin and Salthill-Knocknacarra, which was due to take place in Pearse Stadium on Saturday afternoon, has also been rescheduled for Sunday.