Weekend offers chance of slight thaw

MET Éireann is predicting the weekend will see the start of an albeit slight increase in temperatures and a slow thawing of the blanket of snow which has covered much of the country for the last week.

On Saturday and Sunday, the days will be dry and bright and temperatures could reach as high as 6C in some parts. That will lead to partial thaws for a few hours each day.

However, the nights will continue to be bitterly cold with temperatures continuing to dip as low as -8C.