Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) has shared with Afloat.ie photos of before and after its clean-up operation following the devastation caused by Storm Debi last week.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, some 20 boats and dinghies parked at the club were seriously damaged or destroyed during the storm on Monday (13 November).

And the juniors bore the brunt of the storm, with the club lamenting that their fleets “have been wiped out”.

After removing the damaged boats | Credit: Pierce Purcell

For one senior member now based in the US, John Buckley, it brought back memories of Hurricane Debbie in 1961 and its own trail of destruction.

On Saturday morning (18 November) some 50 club members turned up with their families to clear the wreckage and get boats home to start the repair and replacements lists.

GBSC Commodore Johnny Shorten and Vice-Commodore Pat Irwin praised the members coming to the rescue and said they are determined to get the place sorted. They are currently involved completing a building programme to enhance the training facilities and equipment storage sheds.

Blackrock Diving Tower in Galway’s Salthill has been closed due to damage wrought by Storm Debi.

Galway City Council says it will remain closed “until damage is assessed and repairs are complete”.

Galway city and county sustained both flooding, power cuts and structural damage in the storm, with boats being thrown up on a pier at the Claddagh in the city.

The Pier Head Bar in Kinvara, well known to sailors, was forced to close, while a number of businesses in Clarenbridge and in Oranmore on the south side of the bay were also severely damaged.

The city’s Local Coordination Group (Galway City Council, HSE, An Garda Síochána and the Fire Services)confirmed on Monday evening that all roads in the city are now open, with the exception of Silver Strand, which will open on Tuesday.

“Many thanks to the public for their cooperation and to our crews for their work on the ground today. Thanks to all from the HSE, An Garda Síochána, Uisce Éireann, the Civil Defence, the Harbour Master, and the Fire Service,” the city council said in a statement.

In an update on Storm Debi, Galway City Council has warned of flooding, overtopping, damage to exposed and vulnerable structures, disruption to services and transport, power outages, and fallen trees/ branches.

A red weather alert has been issued by Met Éireann for 14 counties, including Galway,ahead of Storm Debi.

Galway’s local co-ordination group meets at 7am on Monday to review the impact of the storm, but has already put a number of measures in place from Sunday night.

Salthill promenade from Threadneedle road roundabout to Galway Business School will be closed, as will Silverstrand road and a section of the Rosshill road until the red warning is lifted.

Ballyloughane Road (beach) remains open, but road users are advised to avoid the area during the red weather alert, the city council says.

Motorists are advised to remove cars from car parks at Salthill, Tofts, Silverstrand and Ballyloughane Beach. Toft and Salthill carparks are closed to the public.

Sandbags have been placed at the Tourist kiosk in Salthill; Claddagh Hall; Galway Fire Station at Fr Burke Road; the Spanish Arch; and the Galway Docks area beside the pedestrian crossing (St Nicholas Street).

A red wind warning for Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, East Galway and South Roscommon will be in place from 2am until 5am.

Another separate red wind warning will be in place for Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath, Wicklow, Offaly, and Westmeath from 5am to 8am.

Met Éireann has issued a Status Red wind warning for counties Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Offaly, Westmeath for Monday (13 November) with the arrival of Storm Debi.

And a Status Orange warning will be in effect on and off the East Coast from counties Wexford to Down, with a Status Yellow warning for the rest of the island of Ireland’s coastline.

Met Éireann’s weather warning states that conditions will be “extremely gusty on Sunday night and Monday due to Storm Debi with potential danger to life”.

Possible impacts include damage to exposed and vulnerable structures; disruption to services and transport; significant power outages; and fallen trees/branches.

High winds — reaching as much as violent storm Force 11 from Mizen Head to Valentia to Slyne Head — will be accompanied by heavy rain with a chance of embedded thunderstorms and hail.

In addition, a small craft warning is in effect from 11pm on Sunday (11 November) until late on Tuesday (14 November) as south-easterly winds veering south-westerly will reach Force 6 or higher.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the inland waterways not to undertake unnecessary journeys and to check mooring lines regularly throughout this period.

Waterways users are advised that jetties and quay walls may be slippery due to the heavy rainfall. Additional precautions should be taken when operating on or near water during Storm Debi.