Overnight freeze hits commuters

Drivers in many parts of the country are facing a difficult commute after another overnight freeze.

Temperatures have fallen to as low as -5.5C in some parts of the country, with little thaw expected throughout the day.

As well as ice and lying snow, freezing fog is now also being reported, particularly on the M7 Limerick bypass.

Flights have been departing Dublin airport as normal, apart from early departures to London Luton, which were cancelled. That route should resume in the next hour.

Easyjet has cancelled all Dublin-bound flights from Stansted and Gatwick until midday.

Bus Eireann is also experiencing disruption and delays on services in Limerick and Kerry.

AA Roadwatch say temperatures dipped to -5.5C on the Dublin/Sligo Road at Longford overnight, with similar lows on the N22 Cork/Tralee Road at Macroom, and on the Cork/Limerick road at Charleville.

It is extremely icy on secondary and minor roads.

The Castlemaine to Tralee Road in Co Kerry is impassable at Short Mountain Road. Further north, ice and slush continue to cause problems in counties Cavan, Leitrim, Galway, Sligo, Monaghan and Donegal.

The worst is not over yet - temperatures will hover close to freezing throughout the day in many parts, with further wintry showers of hail and snow affecting Ulster and coastal areas of the west.