The AA has confirmed that far from taking traffic off the roads, European Car Free Day has turned out to be the busiest day of the month on the nation's roads.
Spokesperson Conor Faughnan said it was an ironic twist that the terrible weather had urged more motorists onto the roads.
"It underlines the fact that it's just not possible to have a proper working day on a car free basis," said Mr Faughnan. "If you want to do it properly just call it Christmas Day and give everyone the day off.
Fine Gael Seanad Transport Spokesman Senator Fergal Browne rejected suggestions that the weather was to blame for commuters not taking part in car free day. He criticised Transport Minister Mr Seamus Brennan for not ensuring that Dublin Bus provided a comprehensive free travel service today.
"Minister Brennan should be ashamed of the free travel provisions made available in the capital today," said Mr Browne.
"If he was serious about encouraging people to use public transport, he would have made sure Dublin Bus provided free travel during rush hour periods. Instead, the company provided limited free travel outside peak hours, when a large portion of passengers would be pensioners with free bus passes."
Dublin Bus and Dart gave away 20,000 prepaid tickets around the city. In contrast Bus Éireann offered free travel for specified times on city/town services in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Dungarvan, Sligo, Westport and Balbriggan.
The country's other motoring organisation the RAC was also highly critical of Ireland's involvement in Car Free Day which it labelled a "cosmetic exercise."
"The failure of Car Free Day again this year highlights the fact that until we have a fully integrated public transport system (with integrated ticketing: same ticket for the DART, Luas and Dublin Bus), commuters will not see Car Free Day as anything other than a PR exercise," said Robert Taylor, Managing Director of RAC Ireland.
"In addition, with the Tallaght line of the Luas coming on stream less than a week after Car Free Day - this only serves to highlight the lack of "joined-up thinking" in the area of public transport policy. Why could the start date of the Tallaght line not have been brought forward slightly so that it was up and running for Car Free Day?"
Sustainable Energy Ireland marked the day by releasing a report which underlines the necessity of reducing our dependence on road transport.
Road transport is now responsible for 93% of all transport related emissions in Ireland which grew by a staggering 124% between 1992 and 2002. The EU average over the same period was just 21%.
This is the fifth year Ireland has participated in the Europe-wide car free day and a total of 21 towns and cities took part. They are: Balbriggan, Blanchardstown, Clare, Clonakilty, Cork, Dublin, Dungarvan, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick city and Limerick county, Navan, Portmarnock, Portrane, Sligo, Tralee, Tullamore, Waterford, Westport and Wicklow.