Moate hit by power outages as storm batters country

A power outage is affecting some residents in Moate as a storm continues to batter parts of the country with strong winds and heavy rain.

In Athlone, flooding is causing traffic disruptions on the Ballymahon Road (at the Crescent railway bridge) and on the Retreat Road.   

According to the ESB, 21 customers in Moate are currently esperiencing a disruption to their power supply.

The outage began just after 4pm today and the ESB said it was hoping to restore supply to the affected customers by approximately 7.45pm.

Several other parts of the country - including Creagh, Ballinasloe - have also been hit by interruptions to their electricity supply.

Met Eireann has issued a 'red' - or very severe - weather warning for much of Connacht.

A 'yellow' warning is in effect for Roscommon and Leinster, with the national weather service saying it will be 'very windy later this afternoon and evening with very strong and blustery south veering southwest winds and gusts of 90 to 110km/h.'