Storms are expected to create major problems for travellers today as the post-Christmas exodus intensifies. The ferry companies said weekend sailings would be severely disrupted and warned passengers to expect cancellations and serious delays. People not already booked to travel were being advised to stay away from ports.
The latest storms, due from early this morning, were expected to be most violent in Connacht and Ulster.
Gusts of up to 80 miles per hour have been predicted for many places, reaching 90 m.p.h. in some coastal areas. The storms are due to abate this evening, making way for colder weather.
As the ESB reported the cost of Christmas storm damage at £2 to £3 million, the company was bracing itself for more trouble. A spokesman said 750 personnel were working or officially on call overnight, while another 500 were available at short notice.
Repair vehicles at all major centres had been loaded with emergency equipment in advance, to allow quick response.
The Naval Service vessel, the LE Eithne, was continuing to accompany the troubled cargo ship, the Oak, along the Irish coast last night as the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) monitored progress. The ship, which was the subject of a major air/sea alert earlier this week when it developed a list after its cargo shifted, was expected to leave Irish waters at 3 a.m. It is due in Liverpool this morning.
If winds allow, the Air Corps will today resume an airlift of the remainder of a group of 63 holiday-makers which was stranded on Inisbofin, off Co Galway. Many were in danger of missing flight connections.
Yesterday, 29 Irish, Spanish and German tourists were evacuated by helicopter. The airlift was requested by the junior Minister with responsibility for the islands, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, according to the Air Corps.
The helicopter involved, which also brought provisions and medical equipment to the island, is part of the search and rescue service based at Finner in Donegal. An Air Corps spokesman said it could only engage in such airlifts when there were no emergencies to deal with.
He said the Finner service evacuated a woman from Tory Island on Thursday after she became ill, and added that the helicopter used at Inishbofin broke off from the airlift operation there at one point to answer an emergency involving windsurfers at Strandhill, Co Sligo. The SOS was cancelled and the helicopter returned to Inishbofin, making six round trips to the island over five hours.
The AA told motorists to watch for spot flooding and surface water on all roads and warned of fallen trees and other debris, especially on side roads.
While thousands leave Ireland after the Christmas holiday, many permanently resident here will be returning to work in the cities this weekend. Iarnrod Eireann is putting on four extra Dublinbound trains on Sunday, from Galway (2 p.m.), Tralee (2.10 p.m.), Sligo (5.20 p.m.) and Cork (6.25 p.m.).
On both Monday and Tuesday there will also be an extra train leaving Boyle, Co Roscommon, station for Dublin at 7.55 a.m.
A spokesman warned that passenger numbers would be heaviest on Sunday afternoon and evening and asked intending passengers to arrange to travel at other times if possible.
An ESB report on its emergency work prepared for the Government said planned power cuts will take place over the next few weeks as the company makes permanent repairs in areas where only temporary repairs were possible during the Christmas period.
An ESB spokesman said yesterday the planned cuts will last no longer than three or four hours. They will be mainly in the southwest, where the damage was most severe, but all areas of the State would be affected.
Christmas brought out the best in the ESB: page 6