Parts of Galway and Clare are still suffering the effects of major flooding.
One of the more dramatic rescues overnight was in Gort, Co Galway, where a family including an 87 year old woman had to be airlifted to safety.
Motorists in Galway have been advised not to use the main Dublin road which is flooded at Craughwell.
Ballinasloe is also experiencing flooding after the river Suck burst its banks and around 40 families have been forced to leave their homes.
The N6 Galway/Dublin Rd is closed at Ballinasloe and Galway West TD Frank Fahey, has asked that the NRA open one carriageway immediately.
“Well I think the real issue is people getting from Dublin to Galway and vice-versa” he said.
“You can’t even go on the minor roads; I know the country well, and I just couldn’t find a road last night without literally going almost all round the country”.
“Bus Eireann have no buses running, the train is stopped – even if the train was running it’d be something – but the line is blocked in two locations near Athenry and Ballinasloe”.
“The motorway’s our only hope” he said.
Meanwhile, the Defence Forces says 110 soldiers, 15 off road trucks and 4 flat bottomed boats are now operating in Cork city, Bantry, Clonakilty, Ennis, Clonmel and Ballinasloe, to assist stemming the tide of the floods and to provide trucks with high ground clearance to allow movement through the flood water.
They say they are fulfilling these requests for assistance from County Councils, Local Authorities and the HSE, according to a statement.
The statement also said: “We have contingency plans in place to continue this assistance over the weekend if required. Air Corps helicopters on standby for emergency assistance also, but due to the bad weather will only be used in exceptional circumstances”.
The statement went on “We have been receiving direct requests from homeowners, however we are responding to requests from local authorities and the HSE as a priority to deal with the needs of communities as they decide”.
Flooded street in Cork
Quay wall behind Cork’s Mercy Hospital
Flooding in Cork continues
