Power cuts and school closures as Storm Rachel visits Donegal

15-thousand homes are without power this morning with winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour battering the north west and west coasts.
A Status Red warning has been issued for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick as Tropical Storm Rachel completes her journey across the Atlantic.
Met Éireann says its severe weather warning will remain in place until this afternoon – with the worst of the high wind and heavy rain yet to come.
A number of roads are impassable because of spot flooding and debris, and the Harry Blaney Bridge in Fanad has been closed.
ESB Networks says at present there are almost 2,500 homes and businesses without power in Donegal at the moment, 2,344 of them in Derrybeg and 124 in Stranorlar. They hope to have all connections restored by 5 o’clock this evening.