Several streets in Cork city were under water after the river Lee overflowed its banks - the fourth time in just four weeks that parts of the city were flooded.
Some shops that had been flooded just 24 hours earlier, were hit by rising water again.
At the height of the flooding, one of the city's main streets, Oliver Plunkett Street, was under several feet of water.
Cobh and Kinsale in Co Cork, and Clonmel in Co Tipperary were also badly flooded.
Towns in eastern and southern counties, particularly Waterford and Wexford, were battered by hurricane-force winds and high waves last night.
Heavy rain and strong gusts of rain also hit the north, with eastern counties particularly badly hit.
ESB Networks said more than 350 separate power cuts had been reported in the republic.
Most of the cuts were in Cork city, Bandon in Co Cork, Waterford, Portlaoise in Co Laois, and parts of Co Tipperary.
Gardai warned motorists to travel only if necessary because high winds, heavy rain and fallen trees had made driving conditions hazardous.
Several Irish Ferry sailings from rosslare to Pembroke were cancelled due to the bad weather.
Met Éireann has warned that another Atlantic storm depression is heading for Ireland.
The forecaster issued a wind warning, with gusts of up to 115kmph predicted to batter Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Wick-low, Meath, Cork, Kerry and Waterford, until this morning.
Gusts of up to 100kmph are expected to hit the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced an additional E 15m to help people affected by flooding.
Mr Kenny told the Dáil yesterday that the fund is being administered by local authorities in conjunction with organ-isations including residents groups and St Vincent de Paul.
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter