Related Stories

• Special text alert meeting in Castlelyons
  
  
• Curraghagalla NS awarded for water safety
  
  
• Local authorities report highlights environmental situation in Avondhu area
  
  
• Cavanagh’s of Fermoy sponsor car in Crumlin draw
  
  
• Estates clean-up service returning to Fermoy
  
  
• Operation Transformation at Walsh’s Pharmacy, Fermoy
  
  
• Diecast model fans descend on Conna
  
  
• Crowds flock to Christy’s bird lecture
  
  
• Closure of Fermoy Country Market after 40 years
  
  
• Local unemployment down 16% in 12 months
  
  
• Wild weather affects Fermoy parking meters
  
  
• Scoil Pól students relive horror of concentration camps with holocaust survivor
  
  

Storm Rachel caused minimal reported damage in The Avondhu area, with parts of South Limerick appearing worst effected. Photo: iStock

Despite a number of strong weather warnings in place by Met Eireann, it would seem that for much of the country, Storm Rachel thankfully didn't wreak the havoc that was expected.

In many areas within The Avondhu catchment, the road conditions were tricky in places, but none reported as impassable. There were very high winds and while internet services were somewhat slower than usual, there were no ESB or Eircom outages. However, there was a weather related accident in Anglesboro, after a tree fell on a vehicle on Wednesday - see elsewhere for full story.

SCHOOLS CLOSE

A Status Red warning was issued for parts of Limerick and Cork and the Department of Education had said that schools within the areas which expected to be affected could close on Thursday, January 15, but that was at the school's discretion and any school that closed, would have to make up that day at a later stage.

Within The Avondhu area, a number of schools closed, although it would seem to have been a precautionary measure more so than anything else, as the weather proved to be much milder than expected.

In this area, there were nine primary schools closed with only one secondary school closed, namely Scoil Pól in Kilfinane. The primary schools that closed were; Scoil Fhionain in Kilfinane, Glenahulla, Glenbrohane, Grange, Galbally, Ballylanders, Glenroe, Knockadea and Araglin. The majority of those that closed were in the South Limerick area, where there were high winds and dangerous road conditions.

Across the country, ESB workers were working throughout the day on Thursday last to restore power to 17,000 customers affected, but these were mainly in the north west and west of the country, with a small number of faults in the Midlands and South East.

Anyone who comes across fallen wires or damaged electricity network is asked not to touch or approach these, as they are live and extremely dangerous. Any faults can be reported by calling 1850 372999. For updates on any faults or work to be carried out, visit www.esbpowercheck.ie, follow @ESBNetworks on Twitter or call the above 1850 number.

ROADS SALTED

As the warnings were in place, Cork County Council took all expected measures and senior executive engineer, Brendan O'Gorman confirmed that the Mitchelstown and Fermoy trucks were on salting duties in priority one and two locations on Tuesday last, January 13 at 4pm and 9.30pm, again on Wednesday, January 14 at 4am and again on Thursday morning at 4am. The workers would have been gritting priority 3 areas throughout the working day hours. 

blog comments powered by Disqus