Gusts of 174km/h have been recorded in Mace Head as Storm Éowyn batters Ireland. Hurricane force mean speeds of 135km/h were also recorded in Mace Head, breaking the mean wind speed record of 131 km/h set in 1945 at Foynes, Limerick.

While Storm Éowyn gradually eases off Ireland through the afternoon, we may not be clear of stormy weather for the weekend as Met Eireann's latest update suggests further 'gale force' gusts to hit.

Storm Eowyn brought severe destruction across Ireland overnight. Met Eireann reported gusts of 185kmh at Mace Head, Co Galway which smashed the old all time record of 182kmh in Limerick in 1945. Over 560,000 homes and businesses have been left without power this morning.

Met Éireann have asked people to stay at home as winds have not reached their strongest speeds. Met Éireann Senior Forecaster Gerry Murphy said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland: "People should not be out this morning.

Met Eireann has issued a total of eight Red Weather Warnings for all of Ireland that come into effect at various times from tonight through Friday. Red Weather Warnings are extremely dangerous and destructive and pose a danger to life.

Storm Éowyn will rip across the country on Friday morning with the entire country hit with Status Red warnings

As of 9am on Thursday, there are eight Red Weather Warnings in place from Met Eireann. There is also a Status Orange Wind Warning for all of Ireland from midnight until 4pm tomorrow. The Status Red Weather Warnings are as follows.

Weather experts are warning of a 'historic' storm this week as all of Ireland will be under a Status Red warning for 'extremely destructive' gusts - expected to reach over 150km/h. A spate of Red Wind Alerts has been issued by Met Éireann for Friday as schools,

The whole country will be under a status red "danger to life" warning on Friday as Storm Éowyn is set to bring "severe, damaging, and destructive winds". The storm is set to hit the country in the early hours of Friday morning.