IT’S FRIDAY, and the weekend is very nearly upon us.
We’ll be with you until 9am, helping you get to where you need to go.
Morning all!
Catherine Healy here on TheJournal.ie’s commuting liveblog, bringing you all the latest traffic, transport and weather news.
Spotted something we should know about? Email catherine@thejournal.ie, tips@thejournal.ie or tweet me @Chealy_.
Not while driving, of course.
First things first: the weather.
Over 7,000 people are without power this morning as Storm Gertrude sweeps over Ireland.
A status orange wind warning is in effect until 9am for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford, so be careful out there on the road.
Reports are coming in of fallen trees and wind-blown debris on roads across the west coast.
In Donegal, traffic has been blocked on the R236 Tullyowen/Carrigans Road and the N14 Lifford/Letterkenny Road at Rossgier.
In Kildare, there’s debris on the M9 Waterford/Dublin Road nourthbound at J3 Athy.
In Leitrim, there are fallen trees on the R280 Manorhamilton/Kinlough Road on the Kinlough side of Glenade Chapel and the R370 just outside Carrick-on-Shannon.
In Roscommon, there’s debris along the N61 Roscommon/ Athlone Roadand fallen trees on the Athleague/ Ballinasloe Road, around 1.5 kilometres from Dysart on the Ballinasloe side.
In Sligo, trees are down on the N16 Sligo/Manorhamilton Road, as well as the N15 Sligo/Bundoran Road at Lisnalurg.
AA Roadwatch is advising drivers to take care on approaching the routes.
A broken-down truck is blocking the bus lane on the north side of Ellis Quay. Dublin City Council says a recovery vehicle has been notified.
Good news for rail passengers: Irish Rail says there are no reported disruptions to services so far, other than ongoing bus transfers from Ennis to Limerick due to flooding.
Traffic is building up along the Dublin city centre quays, heaviest on the south side around Tara Street Dart Station.
Here’s what the north quays look like.
Flooding is also causing disruption on some western roads.
In Galway, there’s a minor diversion in place on the N18 Limerick/ Galway Road at Labane.
In Sligo, the R294 Tubbercurry/Boyle Road remains closed outside Tubbercurry at Oghambaun and Quarryfield. Local diversions are in place.
The R298 Enniscrone/Tullylin Road is also closed at Lacknaslevia due to flooding.
In Roscommon, the R367 Tulsk/Ballintober Road is shut on the Tulsk side of Castleplunket.
Take note if you’re passing through Fairview this morning.
Need to catch up on this morning’s big stories? Here’s what you need to know.
There are reports of five- to 10-minute Dart delays across Dublin. Irish Rail says high winds are affecting some level crossings, including those at Bray and Booterstown.
For context on this morning’s weather, just try to spot Ireland in this screengab from a live wind map.
In more storm-related news:
Debris is causing delays both ways on the M6 Dublin/Galway Road between J19 Oranmore and J17 Athenry in Galway.
There’s a tree down on the R147 Navan/Kells Road on the Navan side of Donaghpatrick in Meath.
In Mayo, there are reports of debris on the R310 Pontoon/Ballina Road, as well as the R297 Ballina/Enniscrone Road.
In Kildare, meanwhile, debris has now been cleared from the M9 Waterford/Dublin Road northbound at J3 Athy.
A mechanical issue is causing delays to other Irish Rail services.
Irish Ferries has cancelled all high-speed sailings between Holyhead and Dublin today due to challenging sea conditions.
The company says affected customers can be accommodated on the slower cruise ferries.
It looks like the worst of the weather is behind us for the time being.
In Cork, a crash on the N28 Ringaskiddy Road at the Shannonpark roundabout is causing delays.
A second crash inbound on Leitrim Street before MacCurtain Street has also delayed traffic on Leitrim Street and Patrick St.
In Galway, meanwhile, debris has now been cleared from the M6 Dublin/Galway Road between J19 Oranmore and J17 Athenry.
In Dublin, there’s heavy traffic approaching St Patrick’s Cathedral from the south following a crash inbound on Clanbrassil Street, at the junction with New Street South.
A crash on the M50 northbound between J5 Finglas and J6 Blanchardstown has blocked two lanes.
A multi-vehicle collision has been reported on the N7 Naas Road outbound before the M50 Interchange.
That first M50 crash has just been cleared.
Gardaí are now dealing with a collision on the Tuam Road at Cloonacauneen, with heavy southbound delays from before Claregalway.
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