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Flooding will cost Ireland dear

The serious flooding that has affected much of Ireland will leave the country with a huge clean-up bill. By Shelley Marsden - 20/11/09

In some of the worst weather Ireland has seen in living memory, bus and train travel was disrupted, motorists had to take journeys only if necessary and the Army was had to help stem rising floodwaters in the South and the West.

Met Eireann warned last night of more bad weather to come with more wind and heavy rain. Meteorologists added that next week looked like it would be "every bit as unsettled".

Up to 65 soldiers and 10 off-road trucks were sent to Bantry and Clonakilty in Co Cork, Ennis, Co Clare, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and Ballinasloe, Co Galway, to help stem rising floodwaters with some 10,000 sandbags distributed by Army personnel to affected towns.

Another 175 Army personnel and 25 vehicles were on standby last night in various barracks throughout Ireland, ready for action if floodwaters did not stop rising overnight..

Air Corps helicopters were also on standby for emergency assistance, but due to the atrocious weather conditions would only be used in "exceptional circumstances".