Storm Éowyn forces closure of major bridge on N25

A major bridge on the N25 between Waterford and New Ross will be closed to traffic tonight as a result of the impending Storm Éowyn.

The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge which bypasses New Ross town and links counties Wexford and Kilkenny is a bridge on the main road route between Rosslare Harbour and Waterford City.

Digital signs were erected early on Thursday, January 23, informing motorists of the temporary closure, which is being carried out on safety grounds and will result in the bridge being closed from around midnight on Thursday until 12noon on Friday.

It's not the first time the bridge has been forced to close as a result of inclement weather, however, Met Éireann has categorised Storm Éowyn at status red level which means wind speeds could be in excess of 130km/h.

The storm has also caused many businesses in Waterford to change their opening times on Friday while it's expected that many areas of the country are likely to experience power outages and there is also a possibility of trees falling.

The Gardaí issued a statement to Waterford News & Star in which they described Storm Éowyn as "a dangerous, damaging and destructive weather event with potential serious risk to life and injury for people who do not follow safety advice".

Met Éirean issued a Status Red wind warning across the entire country, commencing in the early hours of Friday, January 24 and the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) is coordinating a national response to the Status Red weather warnings.

Red warnings are in place for Friday, from 2am to 10am in counties Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry and Limerick. Similar level warnings are in place from 3am to 11am in counties Clare and Galway while the warnings will apply to counties Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 4am to 12noon.

Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon and Tipperary have warnings from 6am to 11am while in Donegal the warning applies to the time frame between 7am and 2pm.

The Gardaí is warning members of the public that a Status Red severe weather warning means ‘shelter in place’. People in areas during the times affected by red warnings should stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect themselves and their properties.

Sea conditions and waves will be dangerous and members of the public should not approach coastlines.

"An Garda Síochána and our colleagues in the other blue light emergency services will be on duty but depending on local weather conditions may not be in a position to respond to help during the height of Storm Éowyn, subject to dynamic risk assessments," said the Garda spokesperson.

"Do not put yourself or members of the emergency services at risk during this period," he added.

In preparing for Storm Éowyn members of the public should ensure that property, garden furniture and other loose material on their properties are secured.

"Today is the time to be a community, to check on isolated and vulnerable family, friends and neighbours," said the Garda spokesperson.

"Please ensure that they are aware of and prepared for this storm event," he added.

While the worst of the storm is expected to pass early on Friday, a Status Orange wind warning is also in place for the entire country from midnight on Thursday to 4pm on Friday.

"Once the time duration of a Red warning has passed in your area, please exercise extreme caution and care when venturing out on the public roads, an Orange wind warning remains in place," said the Garda in the statement.

"There will be fallen trees, structural and other unexpected debris, and fallen or damaged live electricity wires in many areas across the country," he added.

The public are also asked to note that trees and structures may be unstable. 

"The emergency services and our colleagues in local authorities and utility service providers will be busy across the road network identifying and repairing damaged infrastructure," said the Garda.

"An Garda Síochána appeals to every person using the public roads after the expiration of the weather warnings and over this coming weekend, to slow down, expect the unexpected and stay safe," he added.

"An Garda Síochána again reiterates and cannot overstate the public safety advice that during the Status Red Warning times the public should ‘shelter in place’."

Read more about Storm Éowyn including how to keep your pets safe here target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and important contact numbers to have in the event of an emergency here