DISRUPTION: Schools, hospitals, businesses and more!

From bingos to buses, cold weather is causing problems!

While the worst of the snow fall has abated across the midlands today, what's left on the ground this evening is likely to freeze over.

Expect difficult travelling conditions tomorrow!

The latest weather advisory puts the region under a yellow low temperature and ice warning until Thursday.

The latest this evening from Met Eireann for Laois, Offaly and Westmeath:

Sleet and snow will clear from the east of the country early on to leave a very cold and icy night.

It will become largely dry but wintry showers will follow into Atlantic coastal counties. Lows ranging from -5 to 0C

Portlaoise Hospital 

Management statement: "As an impact of the adverse weather conditions in Portlaoise and its surrounds, the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise are cancelling Outpatient Appointments for tomorrow, Monday, 6th January. Patients will be contacted directly and rescheduled as a priority.  

"Urgent and Emergency care continues at the Hospital.  Any patient who needs emergency hospital care will be seen and the Hospital would urge such patients not to delay attending the ED or seeking medical attention if you suspect you are having a heart attack or stroke, please dial 999 or 112 in an emergency.   

"The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for their support and understanding."

Schools

Rathangan:

Also closed will be the nearby St Patrick’s National School, Clonbullogue:

“The decision has been made to remain closed tomorrow

January 6th in light of current conditions and forecasted weather. We plan to reopen on Tuesday 7th and will update as soon as possible.” 
 

Raheen National School:

Portlaoise Educate Together:

Portlaoise CBS:

Timahoe National School:

St Fiacc’s National School, Graiguecullen

St Patrick’s NS Clogh

Others:

Seir Kieran NS

Rathcabbin NS

Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Edenderry, and Tullamore FETCs:

LOTEB in Birr will be closed tomorrow:

Electricity 

Fresh outages are being reported in County Laois this evening, after power was earlier restored in Ballaghmore, Ballyroan, Borris in Ossory, Durrow and Wolfhill.

Hundreds of homes south of Portlaoise are impacted, with ESB Networks working to reconnect 59,000 customers nationally. 
 

Businesses

Birr:

Portlaoise:

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A post shared by OGormansPubs (@ogormanspubs)

Portarlington:



Graiguecullen:


 

The cafe at Kelly Lou Cakes in Portlaoise has closed for the day:

Bingo

Clara GAA says that due to weather conditions and in the interest of everyone’s safety, tonight’s bingo has been cancelled. The lotto draw will still take place online as planned.

Bingo has also been cancelled in Castlepollard, Athlone and Mountmellick.

A few other places too:

Transport

This is the latest from TFI Local Link in Offaly and Laois:

Laois

7097 Stradbally – Carlow   Cancelled

553 Vicarstown – Portlaoise  

Cancelled 547 Rathdowney – Roscrea   Cancelled

Offaly

2327 Castlejordan – Edenderry Cancelled

College

2343 Borris in Ossory Mount Lucas Cancelled

2347 Portarlington-Mount Lucas  Cancelled

11159 Tullamore – Moate  Cancelled

906 Cloghan – Templemore  Cancelled

9989 Roscrea – Templemore  Cancelled

1925 Pollagh – Moate Cancelled

7100 Belmont – Moate Cancelled

907 Roscrea – Moate  Cancelled

9990 Ferbane – Moate Cancelled

RRS Services with delayed commencement times

806 Portarlington to Monasterevin first service at 11.15am from Portarlington

815 Tullamore to Athlone first service at 10:00am from Tullamore

822 Mountrath to Carlow first service at 11:00am from Mountrath – subject to change pending road conditions

823 Birr to Portlaoise first service at 13:30 from Birr – subject to change pending road conditions

834 Portlaoise to Roscrea first service at 9:20am from Portlaoise

840 Banagher to Tullamore first service at 11:00am from Banagher

850 Roscrea to Athlone first service at 12:00 noon from Athlone and 12:48pm from Roscrea

858 Portlaoise to Thurles first service at 10:20am from Portlaoise

All times are subject to road conditions.

TFI Local Link Laois Offaly confirms the following services will not operate today, Sunday:

554 Ballyfin – Coolrain via Camross and surrounding area
555 Rosenallis and surrounding area 
556 Rosenallis and surrounding area
4728 Mountrath/Castletown and surrounds
10075 Ballyfin and surrounds
4729 Emo and surrounds
4730 Kinnitty via Longford & Roscomroe
10112  Kinnitty via Cadamstown & Fivealley

Accomodation

Any individual or family experiencing homelessness during this cold weather spell can contact the Local Authority Out of Hours Service on 087 445 4542.

This service is operated by Midlands Simon on behalf of the four midlands local councils, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

This service operates from 6pm – 12 midnight. However, messages can be left at anytime and a call back will be received.
 

Met Éireann @ 5pm:

Sleet and snow will clear from the east of the country early on to leave a very cold and icy night❄️🥶

It will become largely dry but wintry showers will follow into Atlantic coastal counties🌨️

Lows ranging from -5 to 0C pic.twitter.com/1lWZhFRRsJ

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 5, 2025

Latest from Offaly meteorologist Cathal Nolan at 6pm:

Got something to report? Text 0833010103.