Road conditions hazardous, flights to UK cancelled

There are icy road conditions today and motorists are being asked to take particular care in parts of the south, southwest and…

There are icy road conditions today and motorists are being asked to take particular care in parts of the south, southwest and northwest.

Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports are experiencing some delays and cancellations due to bad weather conditions at other European airports. Heathrow airport in London is not accepting arrivals today and will only manage a handful of departures as it attempts to clear its runways of snow.

Passengers intending to travel today are advised to consult with their airline before coming to the airport.

It is extremely slippery on many roads in Tipperary, Limerick, Kerry and there are particiarly hazardous conditions in Cork.

READ MORE

Secondary roads in Mallow, Fermoy and Farran are dangerous and it is icy on the M8 between the JLT and Watergrasshill as well as on the N73 Mallow/Mitchelstown road and the N72 Mallow/Killavullen road.

Care should be taken exiting and accessing the N25 Cork/Waterford road and motorists are experiencing difficulties on some parts of on the N71 from Innishannon to Bandon and on to Clonakilty.

Maryborough Hill near Douglas and Carr’s Hill should be avoided as should St Luke's Cross and  Wallace's avenue.

In Kerry, the Abbeyfeale/Listowel road (R555) is treacherous and Molls Gap road should be avoided. The Conor Pass remains closed. Parts of Limerick and Connaught are very icy. Gallows Hill in Sligo town should be avoided and there is compacted snow and ice on the N4 at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Gardaí in Donegal are advising against any unnecessary journeys, especially on secondary routes. Barnesmore Gap should be avoided. Extra care also needed around Glenties and Meenroy on the Letterkenny/Fintown road (R250) should be avoided.

There are icy conditions on the M1 Dublin/Belfast road at J9 Drogheda and it is treacherous on the N2 Dublin/Monaghan road between Collon and Ardee.

The N61 Kinnitty/Mountrath road is impassable and both the Wicklow and Sally Gaps should be avoided .

In Dublin treachours conditions have been reported on Drumnigh road in Portmarnock and gardaí say the Tallaght/Brittas road (R114) is impassable at Ballinascorney Hill and at Aghfarrell Hill due to extremely icy conditions.

Dublin Bus are operating, but with some curtailments and diversions. So far this is affecting the 7, 44, 45, 63 and 84. See www.dublinbus.ie for more details.

Bus Eireann say there may be some delays and disruption to services in the south, southwest and northwest of the country.  All main commuter services in the east are operating as normal, but due to heavy snow fall in Dundalk, Drogheda and Balbriggan, the following services are cancelled for the moment: Route 70 Dundalk/Athlone; Route 188 Drogheda/Trim; and Route 190 Drogheda/Laytown.

Ferries and trains are operating as normal.

The Defence Forces are continuing to transport health workers and patients to hospital today as well as clearing snow and ice from areas of heavy foot fall.

In the south, nursing staff are being transported to medical facilities in the Cork area, while troops are assisting with gritting and ice clearance in the city centre.

In the midlands, healthcare workers and patients are being transported in Longford, Athlone, Moate, Mullingar and Castlepollard.

Met Eireann said it will remain bitterly cold with patches of freezing fog through the morning and snow showers in the west, southwest and north Leinster during the day.

It forecast another frosty night with lowest temperatures plummeting to between minus 4 degrees and minus 10 degrees.