RUAN’s church was hit by lightning and a property in Dromore burnt down in the early hours of Sunday morning.
St Mary’s Church in Ruan saw its timber spire go on fire and crash to the ground after a lightning strike shortly before 4am on Sunday morning. It is the first time the church has been hit by lightning.
Residents in Ruan were awoken by the sound of the spire hitting the ground and soon realised they were without electricity in some parts while watching the flames from the nearby church.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, one Ruan resident commented, “the bang nearly knocked me out of the bed it was so bad, it was unbelievable”. He estimated that it was forty five years since the village witnessed lightning as extreme, “it was so bad this time that it shook the house”.
He added, “the spire saved the village really because it is the highest part of the village, lightning always hits the highest part so if it didn’t it would have hit somewhere else”.
Minor water and electrical damage was also caused within the church building. Locals remain hopeful mass will be able to proceed at the church over the festive season.
A property in Dromore sustained more extensive damage after it was burnt down following the lightning strike. The owners of the property were understood to be out of the county at the time and no injuries were reported.
Units from the Ennis fire station of the Clare County Fire and Rescue Service responded when the alarm was raised in Ruan. The spire fell to the ground shortly after the fire crews arrived and began to tackle the blaze.
A 24 hour status yellow wind warning for Co Clare was raised by Met Éireann from 3pm on Saturday to 3pm on Sunday. Met Éireann warned of potential impacts including wave overtopping along coastal areas as well as fallen trees.
