Orange wind warning extended to more counties ahead of Storm ...
A Status Orange Wind warning has been upgraded to include Co Clare and Co Donegal as the country braces itself for the first named storm of the season.
Storm Ashley is set to make landfall on Sunday with very strong and gusty winds expected.
The orange warning which was issued for Galway and Mayo on Friday and now extended to Donegal and Clare will come into effect at 12pm on Sunday and remain in place until 9pm.
Met Éireann has said that Storm Ashley will bring "very strong and gusty south to southwest winds, coupled with high spring tides".
This could lead to coastal flooding, large coastal waves, loose objects displaced and fallen trees.
The forecaster added that the storm could also create very difficult travelling conditions as well as dangerous conditions at sea.
Damage to power lines, power outages and damage to already weakened structures is likely as well.
Additionally, a yellow warning for wind is also in place for the entire country.
It will come into effect at midnight on Sunday and remain in place until 3am on Monday.
A yellow warning for rain has also been issued for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow for Sunday.
Met Éireann has said Storm Ashley will bring heavy rain for a time which could lead to spot flooding and travel disruption.
The warning will come into place at midnight on Sunday and remain in place until 9am.
Meanwhile, multiple marine warnings will come into effect as well on Sunday.
A Status Orange Storm warning for Loop Head to Erris Head to Malin Head will come into effect at 9am on Sunday.
Met Éireann says southwest winds will reach storm force 10 on coastal waters in the area. The warning will remain in place until 6pm.
A yellow warning for gale will come into effect at 9pm on Saturday evening as winds are expected to reach gale force 8 between Roche's Point to Loop Head to Erris Head. It will stay in place until 1am.
The public is being warned to stay away from coastal areas due to adverse weather conditions.
It followed a meeting on Saturday morning between the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM), Met Éireann and various other stakeholders.
National Director for the NDFEM Keith Leonard said: "Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams are continuing to monitor conditions locally."
"With potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas, especially in Southern and Western counties, surface flooding in urban locations is also possible and Local Authorities have their emergency response teams in place, ready to respond where and when necessary," he said in a statement.
“The public also have their own part to play. I would absolutely urge everyone to stay away from all coastal areas during this period and to heed the advice from the Irish Coast Guard to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’.
"As dangerous travelling conditions are also possible, road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris," Mr Leonard added.
Meanwhile, Britain's Met Office has warned injuries and danger to life are likely during Storm Ashley.
It has issued an amber weather warning ahead of the storm for the north-west of Scotland on Sunday, as well as a yellow warning for the entirety of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and parts of north-west England and Wales.
The amber warning will be in force from 9am on Sunday until midnight, and the yellow between 3am and midnight.
Gusts of 80mph could hit north-west Scotland and "injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties", the UK Met Office said.
