The severe weather has claimed its first victim in Co Donegal with the death of a 92year-old woman who gardai believe collapsed and froze to death outside her home.
Mrs Sarah Gallagher, who lived alone in a rural area near Annagary in the north county, was found on Wednesday by a neighbour. Gardai in Glenties said she had been there for several hours and had frozen to death. It is not known why she left her house during the night.
The northern part of Donegal has suffered the most severe weather over the past two days. Temperatures of minus 11 were recorded near Dungloe at 2 a.m. yesterday.
There were heavy snow falls in north Donegal yesterday morning, but these had eased by the afternoon. Conditions were bright and dry in Sligo for much of the day. While motorists stayed off the roads, children were out in numbers.
Driving conditions remained dangerous throughout the north-west although main roads were passable. Most people heeded warnings to stay at home, and no serious accidents were reported.
Sections of the N4 continued to cause problems, and motorists had to drive at speeds of 30 m.p.h. or less.
The Air Corps rescue helicopter at Finner Camp in Co Donegal was called out to take a 73year-old woman to Dublin for emergency kidney treatment.
The rescue team used a four-wheel-drive ambulance to take her from her home in Carrick in south-west Donegal to Finner before flying her to Dublin.
All bus services to and from the north-west were cancelled, and Sligo Airport remained closed for the day. Banks in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal closed early to allow staff to travel home in daylight, and refuse collection services in Sligo were cancelled.