Over 8,000 Midlands Homes Without Power As Storm Debi Hits Ireland

A Status Red Wind Warning is now in effect in the region.

Over 8,000 homes in the midlands are without power this morning, as Storm Debi hits Ireland.

A Status Red Wind Warning is in place in all of the midlands counties, as well as Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow until 9am this morning.

GardaÍ are also advising motorists around the region to be on the look out for fallen trees on their commute. 

Over 2,500 households in Bushfield, near Athlone have reported a fault to the ESB this morning.

A further 2,000 are having issues in Delvin, as well as nearly 1,400 in Mountrath, 1,200 in Clara, and 1,000 in Moate.

Faults are also being reported in Mullingar, Ballinderry, Lumcloon, and Edenderry.

The ESB says all of these faults are expected to be resolved by 6pm this evening.

GardaÍ say there are trees down between Kilcormac and Blueball in Offaly, and Castlepollard and Collinstown in Westmeath.

There’s also further reports of branches on the Cloghan to Shannonbridge road, as well as on the Milltownpass to Kinnegad Road, outside Kilcormac on the Tullamore road, and at Clara National School.

A tree is also blocking the Ballymore to Mullingar road in Killare, and another is down on the Castlepollard to Mullingar road.

There's lots of debris on the N6 Athlone by-pass, with fallen branches on the hard shoulders.

Crews are currently working to clear fallen trees on the old N52 road near Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar.

An ESB pole is also down in Emo.

GardaÍ are advising motorists to take care and to expect debris on the roads

Bus Éireann says there will be no school transport services in the 21 counties affected by Red and Orange warnings this morning.

However, it adds that afternoon services will operate as normal, once local roads are safe to travel on.

AIB branches in counties where there is a red weather warning aren't going to open at the usual time today. 

Its taking the move in the interests of the safety of both its staff and customers. 

AIB offices in Galway, Ennis, Athlone and Mullingar will also remain closed until the alert is lifted.

Irish Rail says the Athlone to Heuston route is currently stalled in Athlone as a result of a tree on the line between Athlone and Clonydonnin.

 TUS Athlone will be closed until 10am this morning, due to Storm Debi.

It's asking students and staff to take extra care and to not travel to the campus while the Status Red warning is in effect.

 

Director of Services at Wesmeath County Council, Barry Kehoe, is thanking people for staying home and waiting for the worst to pass:

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