Schools close and driving conditions deteriorate badly as heavy snows hit Kilkenny

Driving conditions around Kilkenny are deteriorating rapidly and emergency services are urging people to drive with caution as snow continues to fall.

Heavy snow falls this morning around Urlingford have led to an appeal to drive with care on the M8 Motorway and especially at the exits at Junction 4 where a number of cars have been sliding on the heavy snow.

Heavy snow has been falling around Castlecomer all morning also and a number of schools have closed. Coon National School, Castlecomer Community School, Muckalee National school and Firoda National School are all closed today. Heavy snowfalls in the area and poor visibility is adding to the driving issues in the area.

Kilkenny has seen some of the heaviest snow falls so far today and the snow and ice warning remains in place until late tomorrow evening, the north of the county has been particularly badly hit. Snow has reached most parts of the county.

Other areas hit by heavy snow this morning include Tipperary, Laois, Kildare, Carlow, Wicklow and Limerick.