A SECTION of a stand at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock GAA Club, in County Limerick, was destroyed after Storm Éowyn ripped off a large section of its roof.
Part of the sportsground’s canopy appeared to be hanging dangerously close to properties located behind the GAA club.
70,000 homes and businesses were without power across the Mid West as Storm Éowyn raged across the country this morning.
Though the Status Red weather warning has now been lifted in Limerick, throughout the night the hurricane force winds boomed and battered Shannonside, hurtling record breaking gusts in from the west coast.
Met Eireann said the strongest gust speed on record of 182km/h which was set in 1945 at Foynes, County Limerick, had provisionally been broken at Mace Head in Galway, with a gust speed of 183km/h at 5am.
Mace Head also recorded the strongest ever mean wind speed nationally (135km/h) breaking the record speed of 131km/h at Foynes in 1945.
The weather service also warned of a risk of flooding into Saturday due to heavy rainfall overnight, however no serious tidal issues were reported so far in Limerick.
All flood barriers remained in place in Limerick City and at Foynes Port and sandbags were in place to protect properties in vulnerable lowlands in Askeaton.
Several electrical stores in the city and county reported they had sold out of power-banks, generators, and torches as people prepared to sit out the storm.
Limerick City and County Council said a number of trees had been uprooted around the county and urged the public to log issues on 061 556 000 or via email on [email protected].
The Council said its crews would “mobilise after the red weather warning has expired and once conditions are deemed safe”.
Denise Ryan, secretary of Kilmallock GAA Club, said they locked the entrance gates to the club while the “substantial damage” could be assessed on the grounds.
“We discovered it this morning after we got a phone call, it is very unfortunate, it is a large section (of roof), there are three sections and it’s the middle one, it’s probably the largest one,” Ms Ryan explained.
“It’s devastating, there will be a lot of work involved, but we will work together on it, we have great support really, when we need it, so it will be fine, but it’s unfortunate to be honest.
“We’ve just logged it with the insurance company and we have to wait for the assessor. You just have to secure the area and make it safe, we have locked the entrances so that no one to get in, so that, at least no one can go near it, that’s the main priority.”
It’s understood a neighbouring property suffered “minimal damage” during the storm, added Ms Ryan.
“There was no damage to cars or anything, we were very luck in that sense. And no, no injuries, that would be the worst thing really, no nothing like that,” she offered.
“We will get it right, it will just take time, and people have been great all morning, contacting us just to let us know, and the boys have been down there now, and you know, they’ve gone in and checked everything out, secured the area, and locked the gates.”
There were reports of further chaos across the county, including fallen trees blocking roads on the Shelbourne Road Lower, the main road from Caherconlish towards the N24, trees down on the N24 about 50m from Grange Cross, Boher, and at Beary’s Cross, and a fallen tree on the Ballysimon Road at Killonan Cross, as well as an ESB cable down and broken at Ballybehy South, Abbeyfeale.
Further felled trees were reported at Walnut Court, Kennedy Park, on the R511 by Southhill, on the R512 Kilmallock to Bruff Road, the Hazelgrove Estate in Newcastle West, the R513 at Beary’s Cross, on the Bruff to Holycross Road, the Mill Road in Corbally, Brooks Bridge between Pallasgreen and Oola, the N69 at Court in Kildimo, and at Coolreiry, Castleconnell.
Electricity cables have been reported on the junction of Henry Street and Mallow Street in the city, Templeathea, and Glentworth Street in the city.
A metal structure was reported on the road near SuperValu in Abbeyfeale.