The grey winter sea off Ireland’s east coast seemed to take a breath and exhale with force this week — a deep, rolling surge of water that spoke of distant storms and rare alignment. Where the Irish Sea usually laps gently against Dublin’s piers, the waters rose and fell with a drama more familiar to the wild Atlantic shores, as if recalling distant sea songs that rarely find their way this far inland. For a moment, nature wrote its own poetry in towering walls of water.
Storm Leonardo, a weather system that brought high winds and churning seas across parts of western Europe, drew in an easterly swell unusually strong for the sheltered waters by Dublin. At Dún Laoghaire, a coastal suburb of the capital, photographers and locals alike watched as waves — described by one witness as “the biggest I’ve ever seen” — crashed against piers and promenades, carrying spray high over sea walls. For ocean watchers, it was a rare spectacle; for commuters and residents, it was a reminder of the sea’s unpredictable temperament.
These waves weren’t merely tall; they carried a story of wind and tide converging in an unusual choreography. Meteorological observers pointed to a combination of strong easterly gusts and high tides, amplified by the recent full moon — a constellation of conditions that came together in what storm watchers might call a “perfect storm.” In an area where high seas are more commonly a western phenomenon, the sight of the Irish Sea heaving with such energy was remarkable.
The impact was more than visual. Along Dublin’s coastal rail corridor, trains were halted as seawater overtopped platforms, briefly submerging track and interrupting commuter services. Authorities and transport operators worked to manage the disruption as onlookers captured dramatic footage of waves smashing concrete and iron. In South Dublin, discussions are now underway about strengthening coastal defenses to withstand future storm surge events, highlighting a growing awareness of changing sea conditions and their effects on everyday life.
Despite the power of the sea, there were no widespread reports of serious injuries; the moment passed as tides receded and winds eased. Yet the extraordinary vision of the waves — crashing with a force almost mythic — reminded many that even familiar waters can rise with astonishing intensity. In the quiet that followed, the city returned to rhythm, but with a fresh sense of respect for the waters that fringe its edge.
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Sources : Surfer, The Sun, The Times