Latest: More than 40,000 homes and businesses are without power this morning, the ESB has said.
The worst affected counties are those along southern coastal counties, in particular, Cork, Kerry and Waterford, as well as Limerick, Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Kildare, Roscommon and Louth.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled in Cork and Dublin Airports as strong winds and rain brought by Storm Diana batter Ireland.
Cork Aiport said 14 flights have been cancelled for this morning to Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Amsterdam, Paris and London Heathrow.
People are advised to check with their airlines before travelling.
Update - Thousands without power as Storm Diana sweeps over Ireland
More than 6,000 homes and businesses across the country are without power this morning as Storm Diana sweeps the country.
The ESB has reported faults in counties Cork, Tipperary, Kerry, Limerick, Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Roscommon and Louth with gusts of up to 130 kilometres expected.
Pedestrians walking onto Trinity Bridge from the quayside in Cork city where there was some minor flooding at high tide. Photo: Denis Minihane.
In Cork, thousands of people have been left without power and there was widespread disruption to road and air travel but the city centre escaped with minor flooding this morning.
The ESB has reported several faults across the county, with some 2,500 customers in the Ringaskiddy area without power, almost 600 affected in the Macroom area, almost 700 in the Rathmore area and almost 40 affected near Kilcrohane in Bantry.
The water levels in both channels of the Lee are still high after high-tide at 8.58am and there is some minor flooding at the Lee Fields, but minor pooling only occurred on the low-lying city centre quays at Morrison’s Island, at either side of the Trinity footbridge, and on Wandesford quay. It did not affect traffic flow.
Hundreds of passengers were affected by the cancellation of 14 flights from Cork Airport this morning - seven in and seven out - to Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Amsterdam, Paris and London Heathrow airports.
The Regional Park in Ballincollig has been closed in the last hour for safety reasons after reports of several fallen trees.
Gardaí dealt with several storm-related incidents, with storm debris on the M8 Fermoy to Cork motorway, southbound near junction 13 Glanmire around 7am, and on the N40 at junction four Sarsfields road roundabout around the same time affecting the rush-hour commute.
ESB wires are down on the Shannonvale to Ballineen road, near Keohane’s Quarry in Clonakilty.
There were several reports of trees down, including one which fell on a car at the R618 Carrigrohane to Leemount crossroads, close to the Angler’s Rest bar.
There were no reports of any injuries but there were long traffic delays in the area while emergency services dealt with the incident.
Trees were also reports of trees down on the Gurranabraher to Blarney road, partially blocking the Clogheen crossroads near the grotto, on the road between Srelane Cross and Lee Valley Golf Club, on the the R586 Bandon to Dunmanway road, on the the Fermoy to Glanworth road, and on the N73 Mitchelstown to Mallow road, blocking the road at Annakisha South.
City centre crashes earlier also caused some minor disruption, including a two-car collision on Mulgrave road, just off Pope’s Quay, and a two-car collision on the Blackroack road, near St Andrew’s church, and a collision between a car and lorry on Penrose Quay.
Meanwhile, in Kerry, Strand Street in Dingle is impassable and has closed due to flooding and trees are blocking the road in Kilgarvan and the N70 at Tahilla near Sneem Co Kerry as storm Diana sweeps through Kerry.
The worst of the storm is yet to hit, the council warned this morning, warning road users to proceed with great caution until at least 11 am.
Trees are also down at Aughils near Inch Strand, near Lispole and the Connor Pass. However, the pass, the high mountain road between Tralee and Dingle town is now clear.
Around 300 ESB customers are out in Beaufort in mid-Kerry. However, coastal areas are worst hit overall but inland areas are also feeling the effects as the storm with gusts of up to 120km peak in the next hours.
