Watch: Devastation In The West As Storm Eleanor Wrecks The Gaff

Last night the storm that no one saw coming ricocheted off the West coast of Ireland.

Storm chasers around the country questioned the Governments downplaying of Storm Eleanor after it was given an orange status warning when many felt it packed a greater punch than Ophelia, the red alert storm from October 2017:

Why was storm #Ophelia given the build up?? I’m no weatherman but #stormeleanor is easily packing more punch!

— Graeme Black (@gblack1984) January 2, 2018

I’m actually raging in a way -storm Ophelia was hyped up to the absolute max, but #StormEleanor was hardly broadcasted?! The boy who cried wolf, 2017

— Maireád Ní Mhaolduin (@MargarettILM) January 2, 2018

Storm Eleanors wrath was felt up and down the country and this morning it travelled across the pond to the UK and blew doors off their hinges:

So, our door flew off #StormEleanor pic.twitter.com/N9lExVmECW

— Gemma Meredith (@TheRedOneBlog) January 3, 2018

Once again Galway City Centre felt the brunt of the storm. Shop owners were given little warning to prepare and water levels in the city were recorded at their highest since 2014:

#Galway city centre has gone under. Avoid. #StormEleanor pic.twitter.com/Of0Xy2h0WS

— MICHAEL SCOTT ▲ (@mick_scott) January 2, 2018

But that didn't stop locals from having pints:

Flood water in the Salt House bar in Galway didn't deter customers from ordering pints #StormEleanor pic.twitter.com/Fq2hHxcq1b

— Fergal O'Brien (@FergalOBrienTV3) January 2, 2018

Meanwhile, giant waves crashed against the coastal town of Liscannor in Clare:

#stormeleanor hits Clare. #weather #storm https://t.co/xzpXCojczj pic.twitter.com/he0biG4o3f

— The Clare Champion (@clarechampion) January 2, 2018

Many woke up to wheelie bins scattered across their streets after a bumpy night of 100km/h plus winds:

#StormEleanor

Shout out to everyone who can't sleep and is reading Twitter wondering if its their wheelie bin dancing down the street. ⛈????

— John Doe (@areyousure75) January 3, 2018

#StormEleanor thought the corgi was being a wuss by not going outside for his pre bedtime piss but just saw a wheelie bin soaring down the road like lighting mcqueen on amphetamines

— jazz (@zzajmills) January 3, 2018

Fast & Furious #StormEleanor Edition ??? pic.twitter.com/FrTKm3huh3

— The Invisible Man (@invisibleman_17) January 2, 2018

Takeaway drivers kept working throughout the the storm:

Not all hero’s wear capes ! @Deliveroo #StormEleanor #StormEleanor galway pic.twitter.com/CRhwVv6v5R

— keith collins (@keitho87c) January 2, 2018

And the owner of this mini cooper decided Storm Eleanor was the perfect time to test out the cars gear box:

Brilliant video of a @Mini powering through a wave during #StormEleanor in Galway. pic.twitter.com/DNEDfmZEOA

— Richard Conachey (@RichySpeedbird) January 2, 2018

West coast counties are being warned to be extra vigilant today as strong winds are expected to last until lunchtime.