High winds brought down trees in many parts of the country creating difficult driving conditions.
A Status Orange wind warning was in effect for Galway and Mayo until 1am.
Met Éireann said it will remain very windy with severe and damaging gusts in parts of Connacht for a time as a result of Elsa - an Atlantic storm system.
Strong southerly winds, veering southwest, reached mean speeds of 65-80km/h, with gusts of up to 120km/h in places
A Status Yellow wind warning for the rest of the country is in effect until 3am.
Authorities in Galway have advised people to avoid the promenade where waves are overtopping.
High tide in the city occurred just after 10pm with a wave height of 3.71m recorded.
Emergency services have been checking cars parked in the area to ensure that nobody is inside them.
Galway City Council says there is debris, including fallen trees, on all routes and people should not "venture outdoors unless absolutely necessary".
If your car is in Salthill car park, get it out now!!! It's WILD out there. On RTE weather forecast, they only mentioned "strong winds"! @GalwayLatinQtr @NUIGSU @CTribune pic.twitter.com/pPaJ1Mq5Z6
— PictureDiaryGalway (@PicDiaryGalway) December 18, 2019
Trees down:on Dublin Rd at Galway Crystal; Ballymoneen Road - covering the entire road ; Across Barna Woods on Barna Road - Road partially blocked; Taylors Hill at Ardilaun Hotel.
— Galway City Council (@GalwayCityCo) December 18, 2019
Do not venture outdoors unless absolutely necessary.
Significant debris on all routes avoid travelling Council will clear routes when it is safe to do so #StormElsa
— GalwayCountyCouncil (@GalwayCoCo) December 18, 2019
Met Éireann said the highest gusts recorded were in Co Mayo - 117km/h at its station in Knock, 115km/h in Belmullet and 113km/h in Newport.
Earlier, a Status Orange wind warning was issued for a three hour period in Cork, where a number of fallen trees in Co Cork were cleared.
Very windy tonight with severe and damaging gusts in parts of Connacht for a time. Showery rain will gradually clear northwards with clear spells and scattered showers following. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in strong to gale force southerly winds, veering southwest. pic.twitter.com/RhosJnR37y
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 18, 2019
