Ash plume over Ireland ‘could take a week to disperse’

FORECASTERS warned last night that it could be a week before enough rain hits Ireland to break up the volcanic ash plume drifting from Iceland.

Met Éireann said settled and dry weather meant the huge cloud, which has forced the closure of Irish airspace, could cause even more travel misery.

“It really depends how long the volcano keeps spewing things up into the air, but I feel it will be something we’ll continue to have to be concerned with for the next two or three days,” said head of forecasting Gerald Fleming.