Hurricane Ophelia is expected to be the worst storm to hit Ireland in over 50 years.
The National Co-Ordination Emergency Group earlier this afternoon extended the red weather warnings to include Counties Wexford and Waterford. The status red alert has now been further extended nationwide. It’s advising people to stay inside.
The Department of Education is informing all schools across County Wexford which is now included in the status red wind alerts to remain closed tomorrow.
Home, land and business owners are being urged to be aware of flood risks, high seas and stormy conditions as the storm approaches.
Bus Eireann has cancelled school buses tomorrow in areas in which a red warning is in place, while the RSA is warning road users to take extra care.
Wexford County Council has issued a statement saying the County’s Emergency Response Services, including the Council, Gardai, the HSE Civil Defence and others are very experienced in dealing with adverse weather events, but we absolutely need the cooperation of the public.
Our Major Emergency Development Committee has been tasked with managing this extreme weather event. The Committee offers the following advice to the public in relation to the forecasted extreme weather:
- Avoid all unnecessary travel
- Stay away from coastal areas
- Road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris. In the event of road closures, follow the diversion signage.
- Given anticipated weather conditions, avoid using bikes
- Remove patio furniture, rubbish bins and any loose items from around buildings – these can be turned into missiles by the wind.
- If possible, check in on isolated and vulnerable neighbours today in advance of the oncoming severe weather conditions and again after the worst of the event has passed.
- Listen to South East Radio regarding the current weather situation.
ESB Crews nationwide are now on red alert. It’s advising people to be prepared to be without power. The ESB is suggesting:
- Have plenty of food and water available
- Have torches with spare batteries available
- Make sure your phone is charged and, if possible, have a phone charger at hand for your car
- Please check that elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours are prepared to be without electricity
- If you have electric gates, please check you know how to work them manually
If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous. Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1850 372 999.
The Order of Malta in County Wexford has activated its Community Response Service to deal with the expected severe weather. Its 4x4s will be available to get to areas that may not be accessible to normal vehicles. In an emergency please call 999 or 112 as usual or call the Order of Malta on 086 8513578 or 086 8511991
Closures and cancellations for Monday 16th October due to Hurricane Ophelia:
The Department of Education is informing all schools across County Wexford to remain closed tomorrow.
Bus Éireann will not operate School Transport Scheme services tomorrow in the counties Wexford & Waterford. Bus Éireann has also cancelled all of its passenger services nationwide – including the Expressway network – from 5am to 2pm. It says widespread disruption could continue for most of Monday.
St. Aidan’s Day Care Centre Gorey, Pre-school and Day Care for the elderly will also be closed tomorrow.
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is advising visitors to avoid the reserve for the duration of the weather warning. The Reserve says heavy rain and strong winds are expected and there is a risk of injury from falling trees or debris at the Reserve.
Templeshannon Community & Childcare Centre in Enniscorthy will also stay closed tomorrow.
Bright Beginnings Creche and afterschool group in Oylegate is close tomorrow
New Ross Day Care Centre is also closed tomorrow. New Ross Day Care Centre is also asking anyone with elderly neighbours to check in to make sure they are safe during the storm.
The Wexford Campus of Institute of Technology Carlow will remained closed tomorrow. There will be no access to the Wexford Campus on Monday however classes in the Wexford Campus will resume on Tuesday – the Carlow Campus & Wicklow County Campus of IT Carlow will also close tomorrow.. Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is closed tomorrow with classes resuming on Tuesday. The University of Limerick will be closed tomorrow. All public spaces will be closed including the University Arena, the University Concert Hall and all public walk ways throughout the campus. Other colleges which have confirmed closures are Cork IT, GMIT, and Mary Immaculate College at both its Limerick and Tipperary campuses.
Murrintown Community Childcare & afterschool Service (Tots to Teens) will remain closed tomorrow.
The District Court is advising that all of its services in Ardcavan will be closed tomorrow and all case have been adjourned until Tuesday.
The County Wexford Community Workshop and Kilcannon Day Service will be closed tomorrow. It says it has cancelled transport for its service users.
Bright Start Creche and afterschool club in Clonard, Wexford will also be closed tomorrow.
The playschool and Afterschool group in St. Brigid’s Community Playschool is closed tomorrow.
All Local Link Bus Services in County Wexford are cancelled tomorrow and will resume on Tuesday. Some services will be rescheduled. Contact Local Link on 053 9196278 or 087 1696687 for more information
Michele’s Creche, ElderWood Castlebridge is closed tomorrow.
St Louis Day Care Centre Ramsgrange is closed tomorrow and is expected to re-open on Tuesday as normal
Enniscorthy Greyhound Track has postponed its racing scheduled for tomorrow night. However racing will resume on Tuesday night (17th) where the track will host the 2nd round heats of this years Red Mills champion unraced.
Murrintown Bingo on Monday night at 8pm is cancelled due to the adverse weather.
Crossabeg Childcare Centre will remain closed tomorrow.
The OPW JFK Arboretum New Ross is also closed.
Grantstown Daycare Centre, Wellingtonbridge is closed.
Wexford Bus has cancelled all services on all routes from 5am
All RehabCare and National Learning Network centres across County Wexford are closed.
The FDYS is advising all service users, their families and FDYS Staff that FDYS creches, services and projects will remain closed on Monday.
Enniscorthy Credit Union is closed on Monday.
Lake Region Medical in New Ross is closing its plant from 9am to 10pm Monday.
Wexford Credit Union on Anne Street will be closed on Monday due to the severe weather warnings.
Tadhg Darcy Blinds is also closed and will re-open on Tuesday
Hidden Hearing Wexford closed on Monday.
All Dunnes Stores outlets across County Wexford will remain closed today.
Wexford County Council’s Public Libraries and Public Swimming Pools across County Wexford will remain closed on Monday.
AES has suspended all of its bin collections for Monday. All collections will be rescheduled.
All Bank of Ireland branches in Counties Wexford and Wicklow will remain closed on Monday but will re-open on Tuesday.
Medentech will be closed until 8am on Tuesday morning.
The heats of the South-East Regional quiz have been cancelled.
Pettitt’s Supervalu at Church Lane is closing from 10.30am on Monday
The Only Natural Health Store on Church Lane will remain closed on Monday and will reopen as usual at 8.30am on Tuesday morning.
The Natural Health Store North Main Street Wexford is also closed on Monday.
All radiotherapy appointments at the Whitfield Cancer Centre in Waterford have been cancelled for Monday. Tuesday will operate as normal.
Wexford County Council has announced all of its offices and district offices across Co. Wexford will remain closed to the public today, however the offices will remain staffed to help manage this emergency. Any emergencies can be reported to the County Council offices by phoning only 053 – 9196000
The Passage East Car Ferry has now suspended its services for the rest of Monday. Further updates by calling 051-382480
Lloyds Pharmacy Gorey will remain closed on Monday due to adverse weather conditions. Lloyds Pharmacy Rosslare Harbour is closed from 11am on Monday due to adverse weather
St Joseph’s Primary School Gorey AGM due to be held at 7.30pm on Monday in Naomh Eanna complex is cancelled.
Clonroche Poulpeasty Meals on Wheels is postponed on Monday.
Gorey Credit Union is closing from 11am on Monday and will re-open as normal on Tuesday.
Waters Technology Drinagh Wexford will remain closed on Monday.
The Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy is closed on Monday.
New Ross Mart has cancelled its sheep and weanling sale on Monday.
The Carpet Gallery in Ardcavan and New Ross will remain closed for the rest of Monday.
Meals On Wheels services in North Wexford is cancelled on Monday.
Creane & Creane Insurance in Enniscorthy is closed on Monday and will re-open on Tuesday morning.
Bingo at Ballymitty Hall on Monday night is cancelled.
Bingo in Campile Hall is also cancelled on Monday night.
Wexford Bridge Club has been cancelled on Monday night.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service Blood Donation Clinic in the Talbot Hotel Wexford has been cancelled on Monday.
Wexford Festival Opera has cancelled tonight’s public dress rehearsal of “Medea”, which was due to start at 7.30pm at the National Opera House. Refund details for tickets holders will be available online on the Festival website shortly. The festival box office will close from 1pm on Monday and will re-open at 9.30am on Tuesday morning. Tuesday’s dress rehearsal and the rest of this year’s Festival will proceed as normal.
Greenstar has cancelled all collections on Monday due to the storm, collections will resume on Tuesday. Arrangements will be put in place to reschedule the missed collections.
Sulzer Pumps Wexford is closed on Monday but will re-open on Tuesday as usual
FAB huggie bears childcare service, FAB community and family resource centre closed on Monday.
Wexford County Council has announced all of its offices and district offices across Co. Wexford will remain closed to the public today, however the offices will remain staffed to help manage this emergency. Any emergencies can be reported to the County Council offices by phoning only 053 – 9196000. The emergency contact number for Kilkenny County Council is 056-7794145.
Enniscorthy Castle and the National 1798 Rebellion Centre is closed on Monday.
Quinn Property in Gorey and Carnew is closed on Monday but will re-open on Tuesday.
