The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE impact of Hurricane Ophelia is being felt across Clare this afternoon, with trees down in numerous locations and many homes without power.
Speaking to the Clare Champion Councillor Mike McKee said that about a third of homes in Shannon are without electricity, including many in the Ballycasey area. He also said a tree had fallen at Cluain Airne and a lamp post went down at Cill Cais.
“It has been fairly wild over the last few hours, but I don’t think it’s as bad as when we had the last storm, three or four years ago,” he noted.
Councillor McKee said that most business in Shannon Town Centre had closed, as had those in the Shannon Free Zone. He also said there have been dangerous driving conditions close to the airport, due to debris.
In Ennis Councillor Mary Howard said the weather is very dangerous. “The gusts are very strong and its frightening,” she said.
“My advice is for people to stay at home and to stay safe. It’s ridiculous people leaving the house now,” the Fine Gael representative added.
In Miltown Malbay, Councillor Christy Curtin said that it was “quite blustery, and there are bits of debris flying around.” He expressed concern that conditions may decline throughout the afternoon, saying that at around 2pm they took something of a turn for the worse.
His fellow West Clare Municipal District Councillor Gabriel Keating said conditions are very blustery, but he wasn’t aware of many trees falling in the west of the county to date.
According to Clare County Council there have been full or partial road blocks on the Ogonnelloe-Killaloe road (two miles from Ogonnelloe); at Arclooney Bridge, Killaloe; at Killeen between Corofin and Ruan; on the R474 between Ennis and Kilmaley; at Rossmanagher Road, Sixmilebridge; Ballycasey Avenue in Shannon; in front of Station Court in Ennis; on the Kilrush-Kilkee Road; on the Kildysart-Coolmeen Road; at Doon, Crusheen near the graveyard and at Lackkye, Ardnacrusha
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
