[Christmas Dynasnow]

Thousands of homes and businesses across Cork and Kerry are without electricity as a result of falling trees bringing down power cables.

Falling trees have also blocked several important roads including; the N25 dual carriageway between Middleton and Cork city, which is blocked at Carrigtwohill, and the N71 between Leap and Skibberean in west Cork.

The R617 between Tower and Blarney is blocked, with a couple driving their car on the road having a lucky escape when a tree came down on their car.

The roof has been blown off one of the stands at Turner's Cross, the home of Cork City FC. The roof has also been blown off the Coast Guard station at Schull in west Cork. A terraced house has its roof blown off at Ardcullen, Hollyhill in Cork city while the roofs have been blown off a number of premises and homes in Glanmire, Bartlemy and Kinsale in Co Cork.

The roof has been blown off a PE hall at Douglas Comprehensive school in Cork.

A number of yachts are dragging their anchors at Crosshaven in co Cork.