Desolation and bleakness define vast swathes of the country this evening, after Storm Frank’s unmerciful strike over the last 48 hours.
Homes and businessess buried under several feet of water, millions of euro worth of damage; livelihoods destroyed.
Counties Cork and Kilkenny have been the worst affected by flooding of a biblical scale never seen before by locals. The town of Graiguenamanagh in Co. Kilkenny, for instance, has been left virtually submerged in flood waters. Bandon in Cork has met a similar fate.
Elsewhere, Enniscorthy in Co. Wexford has also been badly hit. The town centre became a swirling torrent of water, completely impassable for a time.
And locals in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, reported the worst flooding since in over forty years.
Army units deployed in affected areas have done all they can to assist the local population, providing rescue and relief effort for those affected.
People up and down the country are now calling on the Government to act immediately, without further delay, and provide emergency funds and erect effective flood defences.
Storm Frank may have moved away from Irish shores for now, but the punishment inflicted by its relentless force will be felt for weeks and months to come.