A gust of 183km/h was recorded at Mace Head, Co Galway, at 5am, surpassing the previous record of 182km/h (113mph) set in January 1945 in Foynes, Co Limerick.
The storm also disrupted air travel, with Ryanair flight RK596 from Stansted to Edinburgh forced to return after circling over the Borders. The flight touched down at Stansted almost three hours after departure.
Tribune Online reports on Thursday that the fifth named storm of the season is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds that will affect large parts of the UK.
Residents have been urged to stay indoors as schools have closed and travel on Friday is strongly discouraged, with authorities warning of the severe danger to life in parts of the UK.
One in five flights from airports in the UK and Ireland was cancelled on Friday, impacting at least 150,000 passengers as 1,070 flights were grounded. Dublin Airport was the worst affected, with 119 departures and 109 arrivals cancelled. Edinburgh, Heathrow, and Glasgow airports also reported widespread disruptions.
Rare red weather warnings remain active in Northern Ireland from 7am, with the Met Office warning of building damage, uprooted trees, and power cuts. Scotland is expected to face similar conditions as the red warning extends there at 10am, while amber and yellow warnings apply across the rest of the UK.
Storm Éowyn has caused extensive damage to the electricity network, with power outages affecting 560,000 homes, farms, and businesses in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland has also reported more than 93,000 affected properties. The Met Office noted that winds could bring peak gusts of 80-90mph, and up to 100mph along some exposed coasts.
Scottish Power confirmed that 20,000 customers in central and southern Scotland are currently without electricity, with repair teams mobilized despite high winds. The company has contacted 75,000 customers to inform them of warm hubs and has arranged food vans and hotels for those in urgent need.
Connacht GAA’s Air Dome in Co Mayo was destroyed as winds tore through the multimillion-euro facility. In a statement, Connacht GAA said: “Unfortunately, the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome was significantly damaged by Storm Éowyn overnight, thankfully no-one was hurt. Thanks to everyone for the support, it is our full intention to rebuild this magnificent facility as soon as possible.”
In Galway, several trees that had stood for more than 60 years were uprooted or split in half due to the “crazy” winds. Cathriona Heffernan, 25, described the winds as “scary” after capturing a video of fallen trees in her community. “Those trees have been there 60 years and outdate the houses even. It’s sad seeing them down all the same but just glad no damage was caused by them,” she said.
Meanwhile, thousands of Scots remain without power, with the Scottish and Southern Electricity Network reporting that 2,621 customers are currently off supply. The company noted the number is expected to rise, despite restoring power to 6,568 customers earlier in the day.
With red weather warnings in place and more disruption expected, Storm Éowyn continues to pose significant risks across the UK and Ireland.
(INDEPENDENT)