Travel in several counties ‘dangerous and treacherous’ due to ice and snow

These are the specific areas transport warnings have been issued about.

After nearly a week of anticipation, snowfall landed in many parts of Ireland last night - causing "dangerous and treacherous" travel conditions.

Status Orange snow warnings remain in effect for Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford until midday on Thursday (21 November).

A photo taken at 20.30 this evening (Wednesday, 20th) in Claremorris, Co. Mayo of snowfall by Liam Newman, retired Met Éireann observer Knock Airport. pic.twitter.com/QdFgI9W4mG
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 21, 2024

As part of these alerts, Met Éireann had said the possible impacts of the snowy conditions could include "very difficult travelling conditions" and "disruption and delays to public transport".

This has come to pass, with An Garda Síochána issuing a warning about road conditions in a specific part of north Cork.

⚠️ M8 NORTH CORK⚠️

Motorists are advised that current road conditions on the M8 near Watergrasshill in North Cork are dangerous.

Please exercise caution when travelling this stretch of road in both directions. Slow down, brake gently and anticipate patches of ice. pic.twitter.com/nFuYMvUWME
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) November 21, 2024

Similar alerts have also been issued by county councils about areas of Clare and Mayo.

You can read some of these below:

⚠Roads & Weather Update:
Exercise extreme caution on the roads this morning. Corkscrew Hill is currently impassable.
Clare County Council Winter Maintenance Crew are already deployed to salt and plough roads where required.
For weather update https://t.co/5C8gkXX5mo pic.twitter.com/GfRjHEzb86
— Clare County Council (@ClareCoCo) November 21, 2024

Road conditions are treacherous in many areas of the county this morning following heavy snowfall overnight.

Our gritting crews have been out with ploughs where possible but please assume that road conditions will be difficult and avoid unnecessary journeys. pic.twitter.com/YQXHxLICNK
— Mayo County Council (@MayoCoCo) November 21, 2024

The Windy Gap road is closed at present due to heavy snowfall pic.twitter.com/J6gB1ZNn6Q
— Mayo County Council (@MayoCoCo) November 20, 2024

Power and communications overhead cables are hanging low in areas due to the snowfall build up on lines.

High sided vehicles should exercise extreme caution and avoid these routes where possible pic.twitter.com/ia62pVfIhR
— Mayo County Council (@MayoCoCo) November 21, 2024

On top of this, weather expert Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather described roads in Rosscahill in Galway as being "totally impassable".

⚠️⚠️Moycullen side of corner house Rosscahill.
Main road currently totally impassable. pic.twitter.com/Ep5hHFhpqV
— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) November 21, 2024

Meanwhile, a "weather-related issue" at Banteer Station in Cork has caused delays to several Irish Rail inter-city services.

Some of these delays have been up to two hours long.

Update:
The signalling issue at Banteer appears to still be impacting services through this station.
Staff continue to work on the issue.
The following services are currently stopped:
06:25 Cork/Tralee
05:45 Tralee/Cork
07:05 Tralee/Heuston - MH @TFIupdates https://t.co/JezbCgPYDW
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) November 21, 2024

The 05:45 Tralee/Mallow service departed Banteer approximately 120 minutes behind schedule.
The 07:05 Tralee/Heuston is expected through Banteer shortly and is operating approximately 40 minutes behind schedule.
The 06:25 Mallow/Tralee service will depart shortly +120 - MH https://t.co/KxZtLWTu1a
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) November 21, 2024

Due to the weather conditions, An Garda Síochána has issued the following advice for motorists.