Latest News and Weather Update - Ireland - 8:30 - 27/01/2026
IRELAND LIVE
NATIONAL BROADCAST CENTER • LTT MEDIA SOURCE
STORM CHANDRA: NATIONWIDE ALERTS AS FLOODS HIT COMMUTER ROUTES
Storm Chandra is battering the country this morning with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground. Irish Rail has suspended several services, including the Phoenix Park Tunnel, due to flooding. Met Éireann warns that "Storm Force 10" gales will persist on coastal routes throughout the afternoon, with travel conditions described as "extremely hazardous" across the eastern seaboard.
124km/h Gusts and Severe Flooding Hit South-East
Storm Chandra is battering Ireland this morning with 124km/h gusts recorded at Malin Head. Met Éireann has issued nationwide Status Yellow warnings, with an Amber Wind Warning active in the North. Heavy rain on saturated ground has caused the River Suir to reach critical levels, leaving many Waterford roads impassable. Irish Rail reports 40-minute delays across DART and Commuter lines, while over 250 schools in the North remain closed due to unsafe conditions.
€29bn Budget Targets Backlogs
The HSE’s 2026 National Service Plan prioritizes reducing waiting lists for 16,500 children awaiting first CDNT contact. The plan includes a €3.8bn investment for disability services and the rollout of 300 new mental health posts.
Gardaí have arrested a man in his late teens in connection with the scrambler bike collision that claimed the life of 16-year-old Grace Lynch. Community tributes continue as calls for stricter legislation grow.
Cork hurlers began the Ben O'Connor era with a 14-point demolition of Waterford (3-25 to 1-17) at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Meanwhile, Storm Chandra has caused the River Suir to burst its banks in Waterford city, flooding Davitt's Quay.
A man is due in court this morning charged over the Finglas scrambler crash that killed 16-year-old Grace Lynch. On the rails, Storm Chandra has caused major disruption to the DART and Maynooth lines due to debris and flooding.
Mayo secured an absorbing 3-18 to 2-18 win over Galway at Pearse Stadium. Separately, a man charged in connection with an alleged attack plot on a Galway mosque has been released on bail as Gardaí find no evidence of a wider group.
Over 250 schools remain closed in the North today as Storm Chandra brings an Amber warning for wind and rain. In Donegal, Bishop Niall Coll has been officially installed as the new Bishop of Raphoe during a ceremony in Letterkenny.
Aon and Irish Life have launched a new €260m climate transition fund to support the 1.5-degree global warming target. Meanwhile, Cabinet is set to approve plans today to abolish the 'triple lock' for overseas troop deployment.