THE freezing weather is set to last at least over the weekend. Met Eireann says showers of snow or sleet can be expected anywhere, and there is no immediate sign of a break in the cold spell.
The south-west normally escapes the coldest weather but this time the trend has been reversed and it has experienced lower temperatures than elsewhere.
Valentia, Co Kerry, recorded its lowest temperature in 27 years - 10.2 degrees Celsius on the ground - on Thursday night, and icy roads yesterday led to a traffic pile-up between Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, and Castleisland, Co Kerry. The evening bus service between Ennis and Kilrush and Kilkee could get no farther than the halfway point at Lissycasey, Co Clare.
Mr Jimmy Quinn, spokesman for the Irish Road Hauliers' Association, said yesterday that 42 of his members had been stranded on the Abbeyfeale-Castleisland road because it had not been gritted by Kerry County Council. The council could not be reached for comment yesterday.
It was disgraceful, Mr Quinn added, that some local authorities were doing so little to clear the roads. His members were also complaining about the motorway between Naas and Kildare town.
Mr Conor Faughan, public affairs manager of the Automobile Association said the AA had received "quite a few" complaints from members about the slowness of some authorities to clear roads for which they were responsible.
In the Dublin area, roads in Tallaght and Lucan remained difficult all day. In the midlands, main roads were passable but side-roads were dangerous because of ice.
In other parts of the country, main roads were passable but the Automobile Association warned that all side roads should bed treated with caution.
Driving conditions in the west improved yesterday, as roads thawed under bright sunshine. Ice remained on many minor roads, however and as darkness fell drivers were warned of treacherous conditions on the main Galway-Limerick road.
The weather has disrupted sports fixtures, but today's rugby match between Ireland and Italy at Lansdowne Road is to go ahead as the pitch has been covered.
Horse racing at Naas has been postponed until next Thursday, and the New Year's Day meeting at Tramore has already been postponed until January 30th.
A decision about whether this tomorrow's meeting at Fairyhouse will proceed will be made tomorrow morning following an inspection of the course.