Cost of Storm Éowyn clean-up to exceed €250m as families face week-long wait for power to return

Motorist killed in Donegal as violent winds wreaked havoc on homes and facilitiesAbout 540,000 customers across the country without power overnight

A massive repair operation began yesterday afternoon following the most violent Atlantic storm to hit Ireland for a generation.

The threat of more stormy weather at the beginning of next week could further hamper the clean-up.

Bringing devastating gusts of 183kmh, Storm Éowyn exceeded even the power of Hurricane Debbie in 1961, previously the worst storm in modern Irish history, during which 15 people died.

A driver was killed yesterday morning when a tree fell on a car at Feddyglass, Raphoe, Co Donegal. It is understood the driver was on his way to shelter indoors when the incident happened at about 5.30am.

Further loss of life was avoided. The Government and emergency services praised the public for heeding Met Éireann’s Status Red warning, with strict adherence to the alert described as critical.

Officials also said that the timing…