STORM force winds gusting at up to 90 m.p.h. claimed at least one life and caused widespread disruption of air, road and sea traffic and power supplies yesterday.
Flights and ferries were cancelled, diverted or delayed. At the height of the strong winds and heavy rain, 12,000 homes across the State were without electricity because of fallen power lines.
Telephone lines were also affected and several islands were cut off by heavy seas.
A man died from head injuries after being hit by an object apparently driven by high winds on the construction site of Masonite Ireland in Drumsna, Co Leitrim.
Mr Barry O'Sullivan (28), a married man from Wilton, Cork, was working on the site near Carrick on Shannon, when the accident happened at about 11.20 a.m. He died at the scene.
His body was taken to Sligo General Hospital where a post mortem examination was to be carried out. The accident is being investigated by gardai and the Health and Safety Authority. The factory is due to open this year.
The high winds are expected to continue for the next few days, although not with the same ferocity as yesterday.
In Co Mayo, a truck driver narrowly escaped injury early yesterday morning when a beech tree fell on the vehicle. Mr Cathal Moran, from Craughwell, Co Galway, was driving at Knock Road, Claremorris, at about 5 a.m. when the tree fell, just missing the cab.
ESB crews worked at full stretch last night to restore power to the remaining 4,000 households, out of a total of 12,000, cut off by fallen lines. The worst affected counties were Kerry, Waterford, Carlow, Tipperary and north Dublin.
The ESB has warned the public to stay clear of fallen power lines and to report them to the local emergency services.
Winds of almost 90 m.p.h. were recorded yesterday at Belmullet, while winds generally throughout the country were about 74 m.p.h., with more severe gusts from time to time. Their strength was up to gale force 10, according to Met Eireann.
Between 11 and 15mm of rain were recorded along the west coast in the 24 hours up to noon yesterday. The rain became heavier during the afternoon, and 5mm fell at Dublin Airport between noon and 4.00 p.m., with 6.7mm at Baldonnel.
However, it would have felt wetter, according to a spokeswoman for Met Eireann, as the rain was being driven along by the wind. Mullingar had 7.2mm in just two hours between 1 and 3 pm.
The weather made driving conditions hazardous. The Westlink bridge over the Liffey was dosed to vans and lorries, causing severe congestion on Lucan roads as traffic was diverted from the bridge at the last moment.
The heavy showers left surface water on the roads, and the AA warned motorists to take care, especially of crosswinds and aqua planning. It also warned of fallen debris, especially on secondary roads.
Heavy seas off the north west coast left more than 700 residents on Tory, Arranmore and Inisfree islands cut off last night.
Sailings of the Stena Line's HSS (high speed super) ferry were cancelled on its Dun Laoghaire Holyhead route, as were Stena Line sailings from Rosslare to Fishguard and Belfast to Stranraer.
Only the Challenger multi purpose vessel was able to sail. It links Dublin port and Holyhead and is normally used for freight only at this time of year.
Irish Ferries were sailing normally from Dublin port, but the company's 8.30 p.m. Rosslare to Pembroke sailing was cancelled.
Flights were affected both here and in the UK. The disruption is likely to continue today as the very high winds move to Britain.
London Dublin flights were diverted to Shannon and Belfast, and commuter flights to Sligo, Kerry and Galway were cancelled, as small planes were unable to fly. Other flights were delayed.
Disruption is expected to continue today. But intending passengers are advised by Aer Rianta to turn up in time for their flights, or to contact their airlines.
Met Eireann said winds were unlikely to be far off gale force for the next few days, and conditions for sea crossings and for fishermen would be "quite rough." But they are not expected to be as bad as yesterday.