Minus SEVEN degrees recorded in West of Ireland area overnight

Met Éireann forecaster Matthew Martin has warned the public that travel conditions will continue to be hazardous on Thursday as temperatures will not rise above freezing which means there will not be a thaw.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said there will also be freezing fog in parts of the country which will make driving even more challenging.

The lowest temperature recorded on Wednesday night was minus 7.5 degrees Celsius in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, he added, which is a long way from the lowest temperature ever recorded which was minus 19.1 degrees recorded in Sligo in 1881.

Temperatures dipped to minus seven degrees overnight as a status orange low temperature and ice warning remains in place for most of the country except Donegal until 11am this morning.

The weather station in Mullingar in Co Westmeath recorded a low of minus 7.5 degrees, while Athenry in Co Galway saw a low of minus 7.1 degrees overnight.