Ireland, western U.K. hit by record winds as Storm Éowyn shuts down transport, leaves thousands without power

London — Record winds battered Ireland, Northern Ireland and parts of the mainland U.K. on Friday, with the severe gales expected to spread across the region, including the full width of Scotland, as the isles bore the brunt of Storm Éowyn. 

Met Éireann, the Republic of Ireland's national meteorological service, said the country was being buffeted by wind gusts of up to 114 mph in County Galway — the highest ever recorded on the island. 

The Republic of Ireland was under a "Red Warning" from its meteorological body— meaning the public was warned that the storm was "extremely destructive and dangerous."