City and country poles apart by lunch

As shortlived as a smile, Irish snow rarely lasts beyond lunchtime, and so, while yesterday began as the best Monday ever for many children, come home time, the whiteness was gone.

That was the scenario in Cork City where disappointment replaced joy in a matter of hours.

Out in the county, however, in places such as Macroom and Dripsey, the snow stayed put. North Cork was pretty as a postcard, as was Wicklow’s Sally Gap, and other parts of the country equally enjoyed the more lasting effects of a fairly rare event. Little change is expected today.