LAST UPDATE | 24 Jan 2025

A COUPLE FROM Co Kerry have said that they are “lucky” to be alive after a gable wall above their bedroom collapsed outwards during the height of Storm Éowyn last night.

Jaro and Ingrid Fagan were evacuated from their home in Kerry overnight after their house suffered “exceptional structural damage” during the record-breaking storm. 

Speaking to RTÉ, the couple said that the incident had occurred around 3am this morning, when the status red warning in Kerry took effect.

“We are very lucky that we are alive. If it had fallen inside we would have been buried underneath it. It was just the worst nightmare you can have really,” Jaro Fagan told RTÉ. 

A Co Kerry couple have said they are "very lucky" to be alive after a gable wall above their bedroom collapsed during the height of Storm Éowyn | Read more: https://t.co/LfnPGPTdI3 pic.twitter.com/Iu9lYikfqP

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 24, 2025

Senior engineer with Kerry County Council Paul Neary told Morning Ireland that the two were evacuated from their home in Ballybunion, Co Kerry, and were accommodated elsewhere. 

“The roof and gable of the house were very badly damaged, so the two people in question had to be evacuated by our emergency services, and accommodation was found elsewhere for them,” Neary said. 

Elsewhere, in Cork City, it is understood that a 19-year-old man has been taken to hospital after a caravan in the Spring Lane Halting site in Ballyvolane turned over.

Units of the Cork City Fire Service attended at the scene, and the man sustained non life threatening injuries.

Damage has been caused to numerous buildings across the country, including Connacht GAA’s Air Dome. The €3.1 million facility, which was officially opened in January 2022, was destroyed by high speed winds this morning as the destructive storm passed over Mayo.

In Blanchardstown, an ice skating facility suffered extensive damage. 

The ESB are reporting that over 715,000 homes and businesses are without power across the country, while many roads are blocked due to fallen trees and debris.

Across the country, cleanup has commenced in the wake of the destructive storm. 

The Status Red wind warning has been lifted across the country. A Status Orange wind warning is in place for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Connacht, Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath until 4pm.

A Status Yellow wind warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford, Wicklow, and Munster will be in effect until 4pm. Donegal’s Status Yellow wind warning will be in place until 11pm.

A full breakdown of the warnings can be read on Met Éireann’s website.