Mallow and North Cork is counting the cost today after a major storm that swept through the country yesterday, causing major structural damage and leaving most homes and businesses without electricity. Conditions were so bad that Mallow Town Council and Cork Co. Council called in all its outdoor workers for safety reasons.

Fallen trees caused major disruption on almost all roads into Mallow, and rail travel between Mallow-Cork and Mallow-Tralee were cancelled due to fallen trees on lines. Heavy rain overnight on Tuesday was followed by rapidly strengthening winds yesterday, and council workers, who had been working flat-out to free drains and do other work, were called indoors for their safety. Workers on the civic plaza also had to abandon work. At around lunchtime a tree fell onto a street light and across the road in the Town Park, knocking out electricity and forcing the closure of the road. The power outage forced most businesses on the Main Street and off-streets to close, and people caught outdoors were at risk from falling slates. At the bottom of Ballydaheen a hoarding came loose and blew onto the road, while it was deemed dangerous to cross the bridge due to the strength of the wind. Blackwater Bridge on the road to Cork was also considered very dangerous due to storm-force crosswinds.

Trees came down in many areas of town, and also in Ballybeg, Doneraile, Dromahane and other areas, and there were long traffic tailbacks after an accident in Twopothouse.

It has been a tough January and February for North Cork, and Mallow had its second major flood last Sunday when the river burst its banks, forcing the closure of the Park Road for several hours.