Dublin Airport closed until this afternoon

Dublin Airport has been forced to suspend operations until 1.30pm this afternoon to allow snow to be cleared from the runways.

Further heavy falls of snow this morning resulted in the DAA again suspending operations until the runway can be cleared.

Cork, Shannon and Knock airports are fully operational.

The airports are facing one of their busiest days as the airlines attempt to clear the backlog of passengers stranded by the freezing weather conditions.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus have added extra flights to help clear the backlog.

Both airlines say they are confident that they will be able to bring all passengers who have been stranded over the past few days to their destinations in time for Christmas.

Intending passengers have been advised to check with their airline before travelling.

Irish Ferries is expected to have its busiest day of the year on its services to and from the UK.

All four sailings into Ireland on Holyhead/Dublin route are full while there is limited space

available on their Pembroke/Rosslare route.

The company says there is space on both routes - Dublin/Holyhead and Rosslare/Pembroke - out of Ireland to the UK.

Tomorrow sailings have space for car and foot passenger to and from UK, but they have advised passengers to book before arriving at their port.

Weather forecast for sailings is good and the company is expecting no disruptions with road and rail access to ports in Ireland and UK open.

Irish Ferries will cease operations when vessels arrive into Ireland tomorrow evening.

There will be no sailings on Christmas Day or St Stephen’s Day. Sailings resume on Monday, December 27.