'Stay off the roads,' warn Offaly's emergency services

Offaly gardaí, fire services and county council are all advising people to refrain from taking to the roads this Friday evening due to severe conditions. 

Although the 'stay indoors' warning was lifted this morning, a Status Red warning is still in place for Leinster and Munster and snow drifts are making driving extremely difficult in Offaly and beyond.

The Fire Services have reported in recent hours that many people are getting out onto the roads and getting stuck, taking up their time and hampering more important operations. 

They have called for people to refrain from travelling for the forseeable future until roads are cleared and the snow thaws. 

This call has been echoed by Offaly County Council and Gardaí. 

"The only reason people should be driving today is in the event of a medical emergency," OCC said. They are currently only clearing and gritting primary routes with many still only at one-lane capacity. 

The roads below are said to be passable but are down to one lane:

Birr Area:

M7 Motorway section thru Offaly Section*
N62/N52 Roscrea - Kennedys Cross ***
N52 Birr-Riverstown
N52 Kennedys Cross-Fivealley
N52 Fivealley – Blueball
N62 Ballinahown - Cloghan
N62 Cloghan - Galross Cross
N62 Galross Cross-Kennedys Cross
R445 Roscrea – Borris in Ossory

Tullamore Area:

M6 Motorway section through Offaly Section*
N52 Tullamore – Kilbeggan
N52 Tullamore By Pass – Blueball
R420 (Old N80) Clara -Tullamore
R420 Bachelors Walk – Cloncollig Roundabout 
Tullamore Town

Roads not mentioned above and all secondary routes remain impassable, according to OCC.