PHOTOS: Storm Éowyn fells numerous trees and causes extensive power cuts in Offaly

The red-level weather warning for Offaly passed at 11am this morning, after the most severe effects of Storm Éowyn had ripped through the Midlands, knocking numerous trees and cutting power to thousands of homes.

A less severe yellow-level warning for strong winds remains in place in Offaly until 4pm today.

Offaly County Council said areas where fallen trees have been reported include Edenderry, Rhode, Cloneygowan, Tullamore, Durrow and Clara.

Other locations affected by fallen trees include Ballinamere, Rahan, Mount Lucas, and between Ballyfore Cross and Clonbullogue.

At Ballinagar, Tullamore, a fallen tree has fully blocked a road, which is impassable at the time of writing.

Local roads around Drumcooley are blocked with fallen trees, the council said, with roads around Clonmore linking Castlejordan completely blocked.

The council reiterated that people should not approach fallen trees or electricity lines.

Other tree falls mentioned by the council include:

- A tree down a Military Rd, Crinkle, Birr.

- Tree down Bulsin Park, Birr.

- N52 Camcor river, tree down onto the road

- Chesterfield, Birr, tree also down.

- Trees down in Moneygall area.

There have also been widespread power outages locally due to the storm.

ESB Networks said that, as of noon today, approximately 7,000 homes and businesses in the Tullamore area were without power.

Elsewhere in the county, some 4,000 homes and businesses in the Clara area were without electricity.

Offaly Independent readers have reported power outages to us in areas including: Edenderry, Crinkle, Mountbolus/ Blueball, Killurin, Derrycooley Rahan, Puttaghan, Rhode, Kilclonfert, Banagher, Shinrone and Ballybritt.

ESB Networks said that, as of 8am this morning, more than 715,000 homes, farms and businesses nationally were without power due to the storm.

"At current numbers, the damage to the electricity network and impact on customers has been unprecedented," said an ESB spokesperson.

"ESB Networks continue to closely monitor the storm impact on power supplies and all available resources stand ready to mobilise once safe to do so.

"From our experience of previous significant weather events and due to the severity of Storm Éowyn, we expect that power restoration will take a significant number of days," it added.