CORK:Compacted snow and ice proved to be problematic for motorists, particularly on secondary roads in Cork city and county yesterday.
Mallow and Fermoy in the north of the county reported poor secondary road conditions while the M8 was also extremely icy. The road from Innishannon to Bandon in west Cork was also treacherous yesterday.
Temperatures dipped to -3 degrees in Cork city and county in the early hours of Sunday morning. All 133 rooms in Jurys Inn in Cork were booked up on Friday night as motorists unable to drive up hills in the city returned to the hotel to take refuge from the cold spell. The Clarion, Victoria and the Imperial in the city were also forced to turn away potential customers as they were booked out.
Cork County Council says gritting and snowplough crews continue to treat priority one and two roads and respond to high risk situations around the clock.
The city council’s roads maintenance division is carrying out full salting/gritting runs on defined routes which prioritise main traffic routes, bus routes and other areas such as those adjacent to hospitals, universities and schools.
Footpaths and bridges are also being treated, especially in the city centre in areas of greatest pedestrian movement. Cork City Council is also making grit available to the public.
OLIVIA KELLEHER
KERRY
Some Bus Éireann routes were back in operation yesterday in Kerry, but the early morning Kerry to Stansted flight was cancelled.
A council spokesman warned motorists not to undertake any unnecessary journeys.
The west Limerick and north Cork areas surrounding Kerry were worst affected and the Glenflesk area near Killarney was treacherous. The N22 Cork to Killarney road was treated and was passable at the county bounds.
West Kerry was also badly affected and there was a further snow fall in Kenmare overnight.
ANNE LUCEY
THE MIDLANDS
Although temperatures dipped to -10.1 degrees in Mullingar on Saturday night/Sunday morning, main routes remained passable with care around the midlands.
Severe ice caused problems on some main routes in Westmeath with parts of the M6 and N55 Athlone-Ballymahon road badly affected.
All Bus Éireann services around Athlone were operating with delays and the Dundalk to Athlone service was cancelled.
Elsewhere, ice led to dangerous conditions on routes around Tullamore in Co Offaly, where the Kinnitty-Mountrath road remained closed.
Offaly County Council says it will “endeavour” to keep all priority routes open until Tuesday.
Meanwhile, members of the Defence Forces are assisting the Health Service Executive in transporting doctors, nurses, patients and medicines in Athlone, Mullingar, Castlepollard, Moate and Bunbrosna, according to Comdt Kevin McDonald.
GALWAY/ MAYO
West Connemara and Mayo have experienced the worst of the sub-zero weather conditions.
Achill islanders were snowed in, and up to seven inches of snow was recorded over the weekend in Clifden in Connemara.
Gardaí reported very difficult conditions on the N59 between Clifden and Oughterard, and on the N17 north of Galway towards Corofin and Tuam, while Galway city routes were affected by black ice, but no further snowfalls.
Galway County Council said it had delivered sand and grit to a number of local temporary depots, which communities could use.
In Clonbur on the Galway-Mayo border, the local community alert organisation run by Muintir na Tíre offered delivery services of fuel, food and pharmaceutical prescriptions to older people.
Knock and Galway airports were open, but there were a number of flight delays – partly due to the closure of Luton airport outside London.
TOM SHIEL and LORNA SIGGINS
CAVAN/MONAGHAN
While all main routes were still passable yesterday despite the heavy overnight snowfall in counties Cavan and Monaghan, several secondary routes were impassable as a result of heavy drifting. Minor roads were untreated in rural areas but some roads in and around different towns were cleared of snow by snowploughs
. PATSY McARDLE