A WOMAN in her 50's has died after the caravan she was staying in was blown off a cliff in Co Galway.
Emergency services and members of An Garda Siochana rushed to the scene in Claddaghduff near Clifden, Co Galway where they made desperate attempts to access the woman.
The tragic incident comes as a Status Orange Wind warning comes into effect across much of the country as winds with gusts of between 110 and 120km/h hit the Atlantic coast.
Met Éireann issued a fresh warning at 5am this morning:
"Gales or strong gales extending to all sea areas this morning, reaching storm force at times on Irish coastal waters from Valentia to Rossan Point to Belfast Lough and in the north Irish Sea, and up to violent storm force between Loop Head and Erris Head this morning, before and as winds veer westerly."
The warning will be valid from 5am until 1pm lunchtime.
The Status Orange warning applies to Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare and Kerry. A Status Yellow warning is in place for every other county.
Those in coastal areas have been warned to take extra caution and avoid taking any unnecessary journeys.
Up to 20,000 people have been left without power while dozens of flights have been cancelled coming into and going out of Dublin airport.
More flights are expected to be either delayed or cancelled at other Irish airports this morning, including Cork and Shannon airports.
