Storm Éowyn claimed its first fatality on Friday after a man was killed when a tree fell on his car in Co Donegal.
Gardaí said the incident happened on Friday at around 5.30am at Feddyglass in Raphoe, several miles from the border with Strabane.
Gardaí forensic collision investigators and divisional scenes of crime have commenced investigation at the scene and investigations are ongoing.
The force are also warning people not to travel unless absolutely necessary as there may be fallen trees across the country as well as fallen or damaged live electricity wires.
It comes as more than one million homes, farms and businesses across Ireland were left without power as record-breaking wind speeds swept across the island.
ESB Networks in Ireland and NIE Networks say on Friday evening that they expected significant further outages as Storm Eowyn continues to batter parts of the island, with 725,000 customers affected in the Republic and 250,000 in Northern Ireland.
The number of properties without power in the north was 283,000 at the peak of the storm. NIE has warned it could take up to 10 days to reconnect all those affected.
Police said it could take days to assess the full impact of the storm damage, which will emerge as authorities focus on clean-up efforts.
The Department of Infrastructure said there are more than 1,800 fallen trees, branches and other debris blocking roads, adding that it would take time to clear and reopen roads.
Some homes and businesses in the Republic are expected to be without power for a week as an unprecedented number of power cuts are experienced.
The top-level red warning for wind came into effect from early on Friday.
Schools and colleges across the island were closed and public transport came to a halt in parts amid powerful gusts, with warnings of danger to life, fallen electric lines, damaged infrastructure and widespread power outages.
Met Éireann said a gust of 183kmh (114mph) had been recorded at Mace Head, Co Galway , at 5am, just above the previous record high of 182kmh (113mph) set in January 1945 in Foynes, Co Limerick.
It also reported the mean wind speed record of 131kmh (81mph) set in 1945 in Foynes has been broken during the storm, with up to 135kmh (84mph) at Mace Head at 4am.
In the north the strongest gust of wind recorded on Friday was 92.2mph at Killowen in Co Down.
In Galway, several trees that were more than 60 years old, were uprooted or split in half because of “crazy” winds caused by Storm Éowyn.
Cathriona Heffernan (25) from Galway city, described the strong winds as “scary” after she captured a video of fallen trees, which she said has been part of the community for more than six decades.
The sports scientist told the PA news agency: “(I) got woken up before the red alert even started, the winds were crazy.
“Those trees have been there 60 years and outdate the houses even. It’s sad seeing them down all the same but just glad no damage was caused by them.”
She said she saw five fallen trees, which left large holes in the ground from where they were uprooted by the strong winds.
“One of them split right in half so it’s scary to think just how strong the wind was to be able to do that.”
Elsewhere, firefighters were called to Harold’s Cross Road in Dublin after scaffolding collapsed and blocked the road. It appears to have fallen off the side of a three-storey building.
Meanwhile, an ice skating rink in the Dublin suburb of Blanchardstown appears to have lost its roof - leaving a pile of debris on the ground.
A multimillion-euro indoor playing facility in Co Mayo was blown down during the storm.
Connacht GAA’s Air Dome was destroyed as winds ripped through the facility in Bekan, near Ballyhaunis.
The NUI Galway dome, which opened in 2020, hosted indoor games for all levels and ages during all weather conditions.
In a statement, Connacht GAA said: “Unfortunately, the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome was significantly damaged by Storm Eowyn overnight, thankfully no-one was hurt.
“Thanks to everyone for the support, it is our full intention to rebuild this magnificent facility as soon as possible.”
