Storm Ellen swept across Ireland last night, with the south of the country worst hit.

As of 5pm Thursday, there were approximately 70,000 homes, farms and businesses without power, according to ESB figures.

Some 124,000 customers have already had their power restored and crews are continuing to work to restore power to everyone affected by the damage.

The storm broke the record for mean wind speed in August, according to Met Éireann, with an average speed of 111km/h recorded.

The high winds caused widespread damage and a number of farmers spent Thursday clearing debris.

Debris

In Cork, local farmer Ian Bryan was called in to clear a fallen tree from the N72.

Local farmer Ian Bryan clearing a fallen tree from the N72 in county Cork after storm Ellen. / Donal O' Leary

On the Conna to Rathcormack road, Seamus Noonan of Noonan Agri, Ross Tobin of Dermot Casey Tree Care and John Kelleher of Cork County Council set to work clearing fallen trees from the route.

Seamus Noonan of Noonan Agri and Ross Tobin of Dermot Casey Tree Care clear fallen trees from the Conna to Rathcormack road in Cork after storm Ellen. / Donal O' Leary

Ross Tobin of Dermot Casey Tree Care clears fallen trees from the Conna to Rathcormack road in Cork after storm Ellen. / Donal O' Leary

Seamus Noonan of Noonan Agri, Ross Tobin of Dermot Casey Tree Care and John Kelleher of Cork County Council clear fallen trees from the Conna to Rathcormack road in Cork after storm Ellen. / Donal O' Leary

On the Cashman family farm near Glanmire, a fallen tree blocked the entrance to the farm.

A fallen tree as a result of storm Ellen blocks the entrance to the Cashman family farm near Glanmire, Co Cork. \ Owen Cashman

In Cloyne in east Cork, tillage farmer John Kennedy discover part of his unharvested malting barley crop flattened after bales from a neighbouring field were blown into the crop.

Bales blown into a field of malting barley overnight on the farm of John Kennedy in Coyne Co Cork following high winds brought by Storm Ellen. \ John Kennedy

“I’ve seen much worse damage elsewhere, so I guess we’re lucky,” John told the Irish Farmers Journal. “A roof coming off a shed would have been much worse.”

Approximately 30 bales had blown into the crop, which is due to be harvested next week.

“We’re not far from Roaches Point here and the winds got up to 180km/h, which was enough to lift the bales,” he said.

Bales blown into a field of malting barley overnight on the farm of John Kennedy in Coyne Co Cork following high winds brought by Storm Ellen. \ John Kennedy

Warning

A status yellow wind warning has been issued for eight counties for Thursday evening.

Met Éireann is forecasting very strong winds for Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Meath, Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

The warning is in place from 5pm Thursday until 5am Friday.

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