Power restored to 'vast majority' after storm

Power has been restored to the vast majority of homes in Northern Ireland who lost electricity due to Storm Bram.

The storm, which hit on Tuesday, caused major disruption with a number of road closures, flight cancellations and flooding in several areas.

NIE Networks said a few thousand properties had lost power because of the storm, adding it expected remaining customers would have electricity supplies restored later on Wednesday.

In the Republic of Ireland, about 8,000 homes, farms and businesses across the country remained without power on Wednesday morning.

An amber wind warning covering the counties of Londonderry, Antrim, Fermanagh, and Tyrone ended at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.

"Storm Bram caused a low level of damage to the electricity network across Northern Ireland with strong gusts particularly impacting the areas of Downpatrick, Newry and Newtownards," a NIE Networks spokeswoman said.

Crews had worked into the night to restore power, she said, adding the remaining "small pockets, particularly in the wider Downpatrick area, will have power restored by Wednesday afternoon".

The strongest gusts anywhere on the island of Ireland on Tuesday were recorded in County Down.

Speeds of 74mph (119km/h) were recorded at Killowen in the south of the county.

At Orlock Head, in the north of the county, gusts of 72mph (116km/h) were also recorded.

On Tuesday part of the sea wall at Rhanbuoy Park in Carrickfergus washed away due to the storm.

Local residents told BBC News NI that the damage to the sea wall and the flooding were among the worst they have seen in the town in recent years.

Gordon Kerr, who lives in Rhanbouy Park, said "it was pretty scary because the sea was coming right over the sea wall and the waves were actually hitting my house".

It's not the first time that this has happened but Mr Kerr said this was the worst flooding in a long time and "they're getting worse every year".

"It's a lovely place to live in the summer but in the winter it's a nightmare," he said.

Mr Kerr described how he is lucky that his house has steps up to it but that his garden was badly flooded and items like his tumble dryer and lawn mower which were in his shed have been ruined.

"It was quite an expensive day," Mr Kerr added.

Stephen O'Flynn, who came down to the seawall with his son Rían Patton O'Flynn, said he has lived in the area for about six years and he has never seen the weather as bad.

"It's devastating for the local community with the effect it has had," he said, adding the area had been quite dangerous on Tuesday evening.

Marty Neill, who lives on the Portaferry Road, on an exposed stretch of tarmac that runs alongside Strangford Lough, helped those who were stranded.

"We had three strangers sitting in our home last night because their cars had to be abandoned... three lovely girls, they didn't know each other, and their cars are just completely ruined," said Marty Neill.

Mr Neil said authorities should be more prompt to close off the road during high winds and heavy rain in the future.

"It's only a matter of time before a car falls in on a stormy night," he added.

Police said they closed the road as soon as it was deemed necessary.

A Department for Infrastructure spokeswoman said the department had became aware of the deteriorating conditions on the A20 Portaferry road and issued information on social media and on Trafficwatch to advise motorists to avoid the area and to use alternative roads.

The DfI carried out an inspection of the road, clearing the surface of debris, and it has now reopened to traffic.

The DfI said investments, including 1km (0.6 miles) of resurfacing between Newtownards and Teal Rocks in 2025 had taken place.

Kathryn Holland, who owns Orange Tree House wedding and events venue in Greyabbey.

"It was definitely the most aggressive water heights that we have seen, luckily we have come out relatively unscathed from it," she told the programme.

In regards to the Portaferry Road Kathryn said she doesn't "think it's coping with the kind of weather that we are getting right now".

"We need some form of proper planning and potentially long term investment to go into this road," she added.

The was also major disruption across the road, sea, rail and air travel networks.

Schools were advised to be flexible on school leaving times, with many choosing to send pupils home ahead of the worst of the storm.

In the Republic of Ireland, some 54,000 properties lost power on Tuesday, but by Wednesday morning that number had fallen to 8,000.

"We acknowledge the disruption to family and commercial life this causes and thank impacted customers for their patience as our crews continue to work to safely restore power," an ESB Networks spokesman said.