With further serious flooding last night in Clonmel, Waterford and other parts of the south, heavy showers expected today are likely to exacerbate problems in the areas worst affected by this week's severe weather. Met Eireann says the worst of the stormy weather, which also caused widespread power cuts and a train derailment yesterday, has probably passed. But flood waters were still rising last night. Winds have abated, but it is likely to remain very wet until Friday.
A landslide caused by heavy rain led to the derailment of the 7.30 a.m. Tralee-Dublin train yesterday about four miles on the Tralee side of Killarney. The train driver spotted the landslide on the single line track and braked, but the engine struck the debris and the front wheels left the track.
The train's seven carriages remained on the track and 80 passengers had to wait for over two hours before being removed by emergency services. Two women passengers were taken to Tralee General Hospital for treatment but were later discharged.
Only one bridge in Clonmel was passable last night as the Suir burst its banks for the second time in three months, while 12,000 homes in the area were without power for much of the day.
An ESB spokesman said wind and lightning strikes on Monday night caused power cuts in Naas, Enniscorthy, Waterford, Drogheda and Carlow town. Supply had been restored to all by early yesterday.
However, power was still being restored to homes in the Clonmel area last night after lightning struck a pole on the 110,000-volt line between the town and Carrick-on-Suir.
A weekend of heavy rain brought the depth of the Suir to more than 20 feet, leading to extensive flooding along Clonmel's quay front. Flooding on the quays and the Park Road in Waterford caused severe traffic delays yesterday morning.
The heavy winds are thought to have been a factor in the death of a man who fell off the platform at Howth Junction DART station, on Monday afternoon. Witnesses said that Mr James Fleming (74), of Laytown, Co Meath stumbled towards at the edge of the platform as the Drogheda to Dublin train was coming to a halt and seemed to have been pushed forward by the strong winds. He fell between the train and the platform.
