Attention is now shifting to restoration efforts after the majority of Storm Éowyn's weather warnings expired.
Donegal is now the only county under a Status Yellow wind warning until 11pm, while it will also be subject to a Status Yellow snow and ice alert from 9pm tonight until 9am tomorrow morning.
Met Éireann’s Aoife Keely said recovery efforts will be challenging.
“The winds associated with this on Sunday and even into Monday won't be anywhere near as strong as what we've seen today and will continue to see in Donegal,” she said.
“Given the damage that is still going to be left behind, the winds are just going to exacerbate the impact.
“It's going to make any recovery that's ongoing quite difficult still.”
A fallen tree and pole on Grove Park Drive in Dublin during Storm Eowyn. Picture date: Friday January 24, 2025. Image: AlamyMore than 600,000 homes, farms and businesses remain without power.
It's expected the full restoration could take more than a week for some customers.
ESB’s Jim Hernan said the damage to the network is unprecedented.
“Our prioritisation is around immediate safety and hazard issues, getting the damage assessed so that we can go at the repairs,” he said.
“This is a multi-day event for some of our customers, not for others - but given the extent of damage, it will be that for the last customers.”
Meanwhile, 120,000 homes, farms and businesses remain without water services this evening.
Uisce Eireann Regional Operations Manager Stephen Burke said more people are at risk due to the lack of power.
“There are a further 670,000 people whose water supply is currently at risk as we are drawing off reservoirs from plants with no mains power supply,” he said.
“Plants and pumping stations are heavily reliant on electricity.
“The main areas currently impacted are Kerry, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, Longford, Laois and Donegal.”
View this post on Instagram
Rail services in Cork have resumed, as well as a number of intercity services between Dublin and the Southwest of the Country.
Commuter services to Maynooth and the M3 Parkway are also back up and running.
However, work is continuing to clear a tree at Booterstown in Dublin before DART services start again.
Irish Rail's Barry Kenny said while every effort is being made to get services up and running, there are a number of routes which won't reopen tonight.
“So we are working to open as many routes as we can later today but I suppose [there are] a couple of routes that we don't expect to be in a position to open up today,” he said.
“Dublin to Belfast because in the north status red applies through to 8pm this evening.
“Dublin to Galway and Westport - we have a lot of trees down and we also have a lot of level crossings that have been damaged there as well.
“So we don't expect to be able to resume those services today.”
View this post on Instagram
The storm has affected some broadband and mobile services.
Eir's Chief Technology Officer Fergal McCann said the electricity outages have impacted services for some broadband customers.
“By mid-afternoon we had about 160,000 homes and businesses without broadband connectivity, largely due to power availability, not just at the household but also at the local exchange or core network site,” he said.
“So that impact is quite significant and it's widespread, you know, throughout the country.”
Main image: A fallen tree breaks up the pavement during storm Eowyn in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Image: Alamy
