The prospect of Irish Defence Forces making incursions into Northern Ireland was mooted after violence erupted there in 1969

Record high winds from Storm Eowyn battered Ireland and Northern Ireland on Friday, leaving almost one-third of Irish homes and businesses without power and forcing cancellation of hundreds of flights and the closure of schools and public transport.

Here are seven under-rated places in Ireland that you should add to your itinerary, writes Stephen Emms Ireland is undoubtedly having a moment right now; in the past year I’ve travelled there more than any other country.

Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are under the top-level red weather warnings for wind from early on Friday.

Ireland and Northern Ireland braced for a storm that officials warned could be one of the most dangerous they have faced when it hits early on Friday, forcing the closure of schools, universities and public transport.

Ireland has called in help from England and France to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people after the most disruptive storm for years.

There are warnings of danger to life, fallen electric lines, damaged infrastructure and widespread power outages

Storm Eowyn brought record 183 km/h winds to Ireland, causing widespread damage, power outages, and flight cancellations. Northern Ireland and Scotland also faced school closures and transport disruptions,

Ireland's national weather service says the country has seen 114 mph wind gusts, the highest ever recorded on the island.

Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are braced for a storm spiraling in from the Atlantic, bringing gusts of up to 100 m.p.h., with forecasters warning of a danger to life.

Dublin: Ireland recorded its strongest ever wind gusts on Friday as destructive Storm Eowyn barrelled in from the Atlantic, cutting power,

Record high winds from Storm Eowyn battered Ireland and Northern Ireland on Friday, leaving 560,000 homes and businesses without power and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and the closure of schools and public transport.