NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Hurricane Ophelia blasts the coast at Summercove outside Kinsale in Co Cork. Eamonn Farrell via RollingNews.ie Eamonn Farrell via RollingNews.ie

Storm Ophelia

• Our Liveblog has been tracking the movements and destruction left behind by storm Ophelia since early this morning
• A woman in Waterford, a man in Tipperary, and a man in Louth were killed in three separate incidents related to the ex-hurricane
• Over 300,000 customers around the country were left without power
• Bus services, trains and flights were cancelled ahead of the storm
• Trees were ripped up and roofs blown away – here’s some of the damage that’s been done
• Despite warnings to stay away from the sea, the Coast Guard had to make a few rescues today
• The government provided extra emergency beds for those who are homeless
• Shops and businesses closed for the day; others were closed by lunchtime
• Schools and colleges were closed, and schools will remain closed tomorrow
• If there’s anything else you missed out on, you’ll find it in our round-up piece here.

Other news

• Irish comedian Sean Hughes died at the age of 51
• Police in Northern Ireland investigating the death of a boy in Antrim believe he may have been attacked by a dog
• Leo Varadkar congratulated Austrian politician Sebastian Kurz – who is Austria’s new leader (and the youngest world leader).

WORLD

Fires run along a mountainside near Braga, Portugal. Global Media Group / PA Images Global Media Group / PA Images / PA Images

#PORTUGAL: At least 27 people have died in fires which have ravaged forests in northern and central Portugal over the past 24 hours, rescuers have said.

#SPAIN: Madrid has given Catalonia three days to “return to legality” after he refused to say whether he would follow through on a threat to declare independence from Spain.

#FRANCE: A new law banning cat-calling and harassment of women on French streets will see men fined on the spot for lecherous and aggressive behaviour.

PARTING SHOT

While storm Ophelia hammered Ireland today, in the UK it was making the sky turn a pale orange.

Because of the ex-hurricane, warm air from Africa was pushed north, carrying with it Saharan dust, and tiny debris from the wildfires in Portugal.

Here’s CNN’s explanation of the phenomenon.