Floody hell! Storm Deirdre leaves large swathes of South Kilkenny under water

LARGE swathes of South Kilkenny were left under water as Storm Deirdre wreaked havoc across the country.

This was the scene in Inistioge, where the GAA pitch was almost completely submerged in water after heavy showers saw the Nore spill over its banks along several sections of the river.

Flooding also returned to Graignamanagh, where residents rushed to erect sandbags in front of their homes to battle the rising water levels.

There was also spot flooding on the N24 at Mooncoin, outside Carrigeen GAA Club. The nearby Dunkitt/Kilmacow Road was also flooded, making driving conditions treacherous.

The was also extensive flooding in Mullinavat, and over the Waterford border in Portlaw.

Hundreds of homes were without power last night as Storm Deirdre swept across the country with gusts of up to 130kph.

Irish ferry sailings from Dublin to Holyhead and several flights out of Cork airport were cancelled.

A status-orange wind warning from Met Eireann for four coastal counties — neighbouring Wexford and Waterford plus Cork and Donegal — ended at midnight.

Conditions will ease today, but Met Éireann has warned of further widespread rain.

ISME, the small-business lobby group, has called on shoppers to avoid travelling and to stay local. Chief Executive Neil McDonnell said there was anecdotal evidence of a drop in footfall on what he described as the final big shopping weekend before Christmas.

“We’ve also been hearing of people visiting shops but then going home to buy the articles online,” he said.

At the Aviva Stadium, Leinster’s Champions Cup match with Bath went ahead despite the horrendous conditions.

The Kilkenny & District League scrapped all bar one of this weekend’s junior soccer fixtures.