WATCH: Crowds flock to Dunnes in Limerick as shop reopens after Storm Emma

HUNDREDS of people flocked to a Dunnes Stores in Limerick this Saturday to stock up on essentials as the shop reopened for the first time since Storm Emma. 

Large queues gathered outside Dunnes Stores on Childers Road this Saturday to stock up on bread, milk and firelights as the shop reopened after it was forced to close its doors on Wednesday due to the red weather alert. 

Dunnes Stores Childers Road pic.twitter.com/jJqu1Hwcgb

— Joe Maher (@JoeMahe05270737) March 3, 2018

“It was like Christmas Eve here today,” one employee said. 

“From the moment we opened today, people were ringing to ask did we have milk, did we have bread, did we have eggs and you can understand the panic, if people are starting to run out. Luckily we do!” 

“It’s calmed down now a good bit, still busy, but it has calmed down. Earlier the queues were down as far as the deli from the till, but it has died down now thank god.”

“If staff can’t get in, Dunnes are advising people not to travel, not to take the risk on the roads,” the employee added.

The line of people waiting to enter @dunnesstores on Childers road limerick.. madness #stormemma #BeastFromTheEastireland pic.twitter.com/AbNwRMOxTN

— Debbie Mc (@mcc_debbie) March 3, 2018

Joe Maher who visited the shop with his daughter, and captured a video of the scene, said he had never seen anything like it. 

“I was there for about 30 to 40 mins with my daughter -it was total mayhem. There was grown men and women pushing each other to get the bread.” 

“It was crazy down there alright but funny at the same time, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

Dunnes Stores on Childers Road is open until 7pm this Saturday evening and will resume normal hours this Sunday. 

The majority of shops in the city centre have now reopened.