Posted on October 25, 2011 by Fiona Hilliard

Dublin authorities are putting emergency plans into action today to deal with flooding throughout the Irish capital.

Yesterday, torrential rain caused widespread flooding - the equivalent of a month’s rainfall fell in one day.

Drivers and commuters were stranded in rising flood waters and homes and businesses have been destroyed.

The city’s largest shopping centre in Dundrum had to be evacuated as torrents of water gushed in.

Flights departing  and arriving in Dublin Airport were delayed, rail services were cancelled and two motorways were closed or impassable.

Anyone arriving in Dublin or touring the country with Dublin car hire should be aware that traffic restrictions are in place on certain routes.

South Dublin County Council says the following roads are flooded:

• N81 Jobstown
• Nangor Road/Parkwest
• N81 Avonmore
• Belgard Road/Mayberry
• Garter’s lane
• Millroad Saggart
• Whitechurch Road
• Wolfe Tone Quay is currently closed

Underwater: The Popular Dundrum Shopping Centre

The rain also affected rail services on the east coast of Ireland – the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise service is cancelled.
Met Eireann, the Irish weather service has issued a weather warning for areas of Ulster and east Leinster.

• For updated info on Dublin traffic restrictions and transportation, see @LiveDrive  @irishrail @aaroadwatch.

Dublin is not the only city to fall victim to heavy rainfall this week.  In the past 24 hours, the UK has also taken a battering. Parts of south-west England, northern Ireland and Wales have also been flooded.  Flood alerts have been put in place in coastal and river areas in Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea.