Andrew Carey
THE CITY of Culture storm is not the only one brewing around here – the Wild Atlantic Way is preparing itself for another battering this Sunday night as a huge weather front edges closer to the West Coast.
An estimated €200m worth of damage, through fallen trees, downed power lines, extensive flooding to homes and businesses and structural damage to public areas, is making up the majority of the tolls already taken by the three weeks of adverse weather.
And it is not done yet as a massive storm front laced with heavy rain and gale force winds is fast approaching the coast.
The “yellow weather alert warning” from Met Eireann brings with it the risk of further flooding and damage while the bands of heavy rain are set to last until at least Tuesday.
Tracking of the front indicates that a huge Atlantic swell is bound for the Western European Coastline with Ireland directly in line to take the majority of it. High tides are also predicted and with the additional rainfall, water levels and localised flooding is greatly increased.
The stormy conditions will worsen tonight, Sunday, and last at least until Tuesday with bands of heavy rain moving in from the Atlantic.
Havoc was caused in Limerick city and county as a result of the stormy weather.
Extensive flooding in Foynes led to the rescue of 97-year-old woman from her home while many residents in St Mary’s Park were left stranded after many of the streets in The Island were cut off due to the increased water levels.
Sandbags were deployed to residents to prevent further rising waters causing damage.
The offices of Limerick District Court were submerged under several feet of water following Thursday night’s storm that resulted in the river Shannon reaching staggering heights.
Other parts of Limerick and Clare, together with Galway and Cork, are already counting the costs of the damage to date with the popular seafront resort of Lahinch needing over €5 million to rebuild its promenade.
Seaworld, the popular tourist attraction, suffered €100,000 worth of damage, while a newly built playground was ripped up by the Atlantic waves battering the coastal town.
Six cars were swept off the pier at Cleggan in County Galway where the Inishbofin ferry docks.
In total, last Thursday’s storm will reap an estimated €25m from the coffers to carry out repair works.
A high flood alert remains in Cork after three days of tides and rain swamped the city.
The River Shannon burst its banks last Friday and although work has been carried out to clean up the debris, a risk of further breaches exists.
In Kerry, a Limerick woman, unfamiliar with the area, was rescued from her semi submerged car after she took a wrong turn down a lane way and ended up in the sea.
