Updated: 24 Jan 2021, 13:21
HEAVY snow fell across Ireland overnight and this morning as the country was covered in white.
People in many parts of the country woke to a covering of snow with showers heavy until midday.
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A JCB clearing snow off a road in CarlowCredit: PA:Press Association
Full list of current weather warnings and updates for Ireland below. Keep up to date on weather warnings here: https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuSpic.twitter.com/45qccJGYtr Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 24, 2021
Snow continues to fall in places and Met Eireann have extended the snow/ice warning until 7pm this evening.
The national forecaster said: Scattered falls of sleet, snow and hail continuing for rest of today. Icy and hazardous conditions.
Gardaà and Kerry County Council are advising motorists to drive with caution on the county’s roads, as conditions look set to worsen overnight.
A status yellow weather warning for snow and ice is currently in place for Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Galway, and Mayo, and is valid until 6pm this evening.
From 6pm, another status yellow warning comes into effect for the entire country, and is in place until midday tomorrow, as falls of hail, sleet and snow will lead to icy and hazardous conditions.
Kerry County Council says priority routes will be treated overnight as part of its Winter Response Plan.
The Visitor Experience Development Plan also warns that tourism in the region is also unbalanced.
Dingle town, which has strong tourism infrastructure, is “a hot spot” dominating the other areas which do not benefit and are not developed to the same extent.
This imbalance also extends to seasonality. While Dingle town is perceived to enjoy a nine-month visitor season, smaller communities in the region only benefit for three months each year.
The most westerly peninsula in Europe has several strengths including its scenery and rich native tradition.
But the report notes the tourist industry has failed to capitalise on its rich culture, not least in terms of the Irish language and its strong linguistic heritage.
Dingle tourism at a crossroads , Fáilte Ireland plan finds
Reputationally and in volume terms, the Dingle peninsula performs highly, but tourists spend little time and little money there
Fáilte Ireland launches new long-term tourism plan for the Dingle Peninsula - Dunmore Head
Fri, 15 Jan, 2021 - 12:30
Anne Lucey
Already bracing itself for the loss of Fungie in 2021, tourism in Dingle is “at a crossroads,” a new tourism plan finds. Reputationally and in volume terms, the Dingle peninsula is a high-performing destination. But tourists spend little time and little money there and only key pockets benefit.
The volumes of visitor traffic around Slea Head and the Conor Pass are “huge” but the coaches, while clogging the roads, bring little value to the area, the plan says.
Gardai are warning motorists of difficult driving conditions in parts of Kerry this morning.
Overnight snowfall means the Conor Pass and the Ballaghisheen Pass should be avoided this morning, although Gardaà say the Conor Pass is passable.
There are also reports that the main Kenmare to Killarney road through Kilgarvan has been affected by spot flooding; while there’s snow on the road between Clonkeen and Ballyvourney around the county bounds.
A heavy rainfall warning was also in place overnight.
The AA is appealing to motorists to reduce speed and keep back from the vehicle in front as roads are likely to remain wet for some time this morning.