More rain and flooding forecast

Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for heavy rain and flash flooding around the country again today, while motorists have…

Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for heavy rain and flash flooding around the country again today, while motorists have been warned to take extra care when driving with hazardous conditions reported in several locations.

Excess surface water is causing problems in parts of Munster, Connacht and Leinster.

There is a landslide on the embankment of the N6 motorway near Athlone. Debris is falling on to the road between junction 12 Roscommon and junction 13 eastbound.

Council workers are working at the scene and motorists are advised to travel with extreme caution.

AA Roadwatch said drivers should use dipped headlights to improve visibility and only drive through water if they know it is not too deep for their car. “If you have to drive through standing water, drive through the centre of the road as that is the highest point,” it added.

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Conditions are said to be treacherous on the M7 Dublin/Limerick Road, which was closed for a while northbound at J22 Roscrea.

Businesses are counting the cost of overnight flooding in Clonakilty, Co Cork, after flood waters reached a depth of two feet or more in the Casement Street, Strand Road and Fax Bridge areas of the town.

Quick action by gardaí, who closed off roads and alerted the civil defence and town council staff employees, prevented a repeat of the damage of the June floods. This is the third time the town was flooded this year.

Elsewhere, extra care is advised on the M8 Cork/Dublin Road both ways between Fermoy South and Cashel North, in parts of Cork city, and on the N25 Cork/Waterford Road between Middleton and Carrigtwohill.

Other parts of the country affected include the Thurles/Nenagh Road and Thurles/Newport Road in Tipperary, the Birr/Roscrea Road, routes around Tullamore, in Navan and Carrick-on-Shannon.

Excess surface water is also a problem throughout Limerick city, AA Roadwatch added.

Additional reporting: PA

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times