Met Éireann issues two status orange snow and ice warnings as six rescued from Carrauntoohil

Snow was reported in a swathe across the southern half of the country, from Ballylynan, Co Laois to parts of North Kerry.

A bus in a ditch between Ennis and Kilrush in Co Clare on Thursday morning. Picture: Eamon Ward

Met Éireann has issued two status orange snow and ice warnings for much of the country, as six people were rescued from Carrauntoohil in an eight-hour operation. 

One weather alert, in place for Clare, Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and Connacht, will come into effect at 11am on Thursday morning.