WEST:AS FREEZING fog enveloped much of the west yesterday, Galway City Council issued an unseasonal appeal to conserve water.
The local authority said that levels at its Clifton Hill reservoir were lower than normal, and council staff were dealing with reports of burst pipes. It urged landlords and owners of commercial premises to check properties, and advised that supply should be shut off temporarily in vacant unheated premises. It also urged householders not to run taps continuously – a situation which has already placed strain on city supplies – and to look out for older neighbours.
Many Mayo schools closed yesterday. Speaking last night, Sacred Heart Secondary School principal Mary Ryan in Westport said that the health and safety of the 600 pupils and staff was her primary concern.
Mayo County Council engineer Ger Reidy said the authority had gritted all national primary and secondary roads and over 80 per cent of regional roads.
Lorna Siggins, Áine Ryan and Tom Shiel
NORTHWEST
More than 80 schools across Donegal closed yesterday and could remain closed for another couple of days after the weekend’s heavy snowfalls.
Donegal County Council road engineer Michael McGarvey said the operation to clear the county’s main roads was going to plan.
He added that there was no problem with supplies of salt or grit compared with last January when supplies ran out.
Towns worst hit by the heavy snowfalls include Letterkenny, Ramelton, Ballybofey and Milford.
A Garda spokesman said it had no reports of major incidents but appealed to people to be careful during the cold snap.
"We have had no major incidents but we would appeal to people to be patient if they have to travel the roads and to remember to call on elderly neighbours," he said. Stephen Maguire
SOUTHEAST
Most schools in rural parts of the southeast stayed shut yesterday morning and are expected to remain closed today because of severe driving conditions on non-national roads.
Temperatures failed to climb above minus figures throughout the day and, while motorways and national primary routes were treated with grit early in the morning, many less busy roads remained under ice, snow and frost, particularly in rural areas and housing estates in towns.
More than 70 schools in Kilkenny and Carlow and more than 80 schools across Co Waterford did not open, and dozens also remained shut in Tipperary.
Conor Kane
NORTHEAST
Heavy snowfalls in Monaghan and Louth forced many schools to close yesterday.
In anticipation of more snowfall, Louth County Council increased the amount of salt it uses to grit the 427km of major and regional roads to 100 tonnes per run and there were two runs overnight.
A crisis meeting was held in Louth yesterday morning to assess the situation and plans were put in place for anyone found sleeping rough who would need emergency accommodation.
In Meath, the council said it has no concerns about salt stocks running low and over the weekend had used close to 420 tonnes, “on the national roads and keeping the county open for business”.
Council websites for the four northeastern counties of Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan have maps showing the routes that will be gritted and they all advised to use these roads.
Elaine Keogh
CORK
Cork was last night bracing itself for a sustained cold spell and subzero temperatures after the city and much of the county escaped the heavy snowfalls which have hit much of the country over the past few days. But while Cork city and the east and north of the county escaped snow, much of west Cork was affected by overnight snow showers which made roads treacherous and led to the closures of several schools in the region. Bandon and Kinsale both experienced heavy snow showers as did Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Dunmanway.
Barry Roche