Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is facing an angry public backlash after saying he will not write a “blank cheque” or “pick up the bill” for elderly people who keep their heating on constantly during the sub-zero ‘Beast From The East’ storm.

The public has been warned to brace for an “exceptional” snow event from tomorrow afternoon that will ravage the country for a number of days and bring with it 110km gale force winds and thunderstorms.

The ‘Beast from the East’ Siberian snow storm set to grip Ireland from tonight could cause as much havoc as the historic 1982 freeze that brought the country to a standstill.

Storm Brian has caused some flooding and travel disruption across the country, with gusts of more than 100km/h.

Seán Hogan tells Joyce Fegan how the emergency taskforce managed the crisis of Ophelia.

Tens of thousands of homes remain without electricity and power in the wake of Storm Ophelia as it emerged that Ireland will not qualify for any financial help from the EU to cope with the aftermath.

Munster was one of the most strategically significant regions during the War of Independence, writes John O’Callaghan

Update: Roads are wet across the country this morning, but as yet no ice has been reported.

Tributes have been paid to Kevin Casey, the sports editor of Waterford radio station WLR FM, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 40. The award-winning presenter died after a short illness.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised a €5m fund set up to help businesses hit by flooding will be delivered before Christmas.

Homes and businesses affected by the Storm Desmond floods have been promised €15m in humanitarian help from the Government as the most badly hit areas prepare for their worst flooding in two decades over the next 48 hours.

Horrothon is back at the IFI in Dublin for 2015, and it’s celebrating its 18th birthday in style with five days of scream-tastic horror.

An 18-year-old Ennis youth who struck former Clare hurler Alan Markham with a beer glass in an unprovoked attack yesterday walked free from court.

A Munster senior title-winning hurler turned up at Ennis Garda Station last Christmas with his head bloodied and bruised after being struck by a beer glass and a stick.

Waterford SHC, Round 4: With their backs to the wall beforehand, county champions Passage came out fighting last night to claim a vital Group 1 win over Fourmilewater in a crunch fourth round clash at Fraher Field (3-18 to 1-18).

Communities living next to rivers are on high alert amid warnings that the country’s major waterways could burst their banks today or over the weekend with the forecast of heavy rain.

About 2,000 people living in 300 homes in have been swamped by floods not seen in Limerick in living memory.

Ballygunner 3-13 Passage 3-16

Senior Hurling titles were up for grabs in Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry, Roscommon, Mayo and Leitrim this weekend.

In a fascinating climax to the group stages of the Waterford SHC, three-time winners Lismore and 2012 runners-up Dungarvan were the major casualties as Tallow, Ballygunner and Abbeyside all pressed on to the quarter-finals.

Holders Coláistí na nDéise made it two wins from two in this year’s Dr Harty Cup as the enjoyed a 3-12 to 0-11 Group D victory over St Caimin’s of Shannon in Tipperary town yesterday.

ARD SCOIL RÍS won their first White Cup with an impressive finish at Cahir yesterday.

Snow showers in the east of the country are causing further problems for people travelling home for Christmas today.

Met Éireann says a new record low temperature for December was set overnight in Sligo, where the air temperature reached -16C, with the second big freeze of winter now expected to last until Christmas Day.

Motorists are being warned to heed safety advice and slow down, as the cold snap continues.

Householders across the Dublin region were bracing themselves for a water shortage tonight as councils revealed plans to restrict supplies.

Drivers are being warned of black ice and freezing fog this evening as Met Éireann forecasts another night of sub-zero temperatures.

WITH an eye to the ever-changing skies outside, meteorologists have predicted no immediate let-up to the arctic chill that has already cost lives and widespread disruption to transport, business and blood supplies.

People must help each other through the big freeze as temperatures are set to plunge even further, it was warned today.

A nurse who stole more than €30,000 in cheques from a dying patient she was caring for has escaped with a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

FEARS over the safety of drinking water in areas where fertiliser was used to de-ice roads have been allayed after initial tests showed the urea did not contaminate supplies.

THE Government has no mechanism to declare a national state of emergency to put in place a countrywide response to a crisis such as severe flooding and heavy snowfall.

One of the Taoiseach's constituency colleagues said there has been a lack of leadership in the response to the big freeze.

The senior civil servant charged with co-ordinating the Government’s response to the big freeze will be grilled by TDs and Senators this week.

HUNDREDS of home owners and nursing home residents were unable to return to their houses in Co Kildare yesterday as flooding continued to blight parts of the country.

Emergency teams and flood rescue crews are on standby across Ireland as more rain is expected to hit the country tomorrow.

Water levels in parts of Dublin, Kildare and Meath have stabilised overnight after heavy rains yesterday spread to the east of the country the flooding crisis that has ravaged the south and west.

IT was the turn of Kildare and Dublin to deal with the deluge yesterday as flood warnings were issued in both counties.

Flooding that has affected many parts of the country is said to have 'stabilised' in the past 24 hours

THERE is “no end in sight” to the country’s devastating flood problems with high tides expected on top of more rainfall next week, the Government’s emergency response group warned last night.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said the danger of flooding in the South and West has not passed.