Severe flooding hits Co Kerry

Major flooding has hit parts of Co Kerry after heavy rain and strong winds.

Major flooding has hit parts of Co Kerry after heavy rain and strong winds.

Killarney and Kenmare have been worst hit with all access to Kenmare blocked to allow emergency services deal with the problem.

Gardaí have advised motorists to avoid the town completely and AA Roadwatch said the Killarney to Kenmare Road (N71) was impassable.

The flooding in Kenmare is some of its worst flooding in living memory and was caused by a combination of high tides, heavy downpours and rivers bursting their banks.

In the early afternoon up to four feet of water was recorded in the Square, Church road and Main Street areas.

Henry Street was also flooded. Businesses closed shortly after 2.30 pm and a number of cars which had been moved to the nearby Square area, when it became clear the River Finnihy had burst its banks, were seen floating.

Roads were closed due to flooding in the Tralee area and the N86 Dingle to Tralee road as well as the Conor Pass also experienced flooding. The Ballylongford area on the Shannon estuary was also badly affected.

A county council spokesman said the rain had stopped at around 4 pm and the situation in Kenmare was being brought under control.

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Met Éireann earlier issued a severe weather warning as high winds and heavy rain battered the west coast. The warning - which covers counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Kerry - is in effect until 6pm.

Winds gusting up to 110 kilometres per hour and rainfall of between 25-40mm were expected for the duration. Southwest winds will reach gale to storm force on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea.