Freezing temperatures continue to wreak havoc across Offaly

With temperatures below freezing across all parts of Offaly today, and the mercury expected to plummet as low as –8 tonight, St. Brendan's Community School in Birr is one of a raft of schools across the county who have been severely impacted by the Arctic conditions.

The Birr school announced this evening that it is to remain closed tomorrow (Thursday) for a fourth day given the continuation of the Orange Weather Warning overnight.

In a post on Facebook the school- which has not resumed in-person classes since the Christmas holiday break - outlined the reasons behind their decision to close the school again tomorow, including the continuation of the Orange Weather Warning; the condition of the school premises; the fact that they would not have a full compliment of staff to ensure health and safety and the fact that school transport will not run tomorrow.

The school said the decision had been made by the Board of Management, and all students have been advised to check Compass and Teams for their classwork.

A number of other schools across the county, at both primary and post-primary level, were also forced to close their doors to students this week, primarily due to school bus transport not running and teachers having to travel long distances to get to work,

The vast majority of primary schools were affected by closures this week, including St. Philomena's; Scoil Bhríde; St. Joseph's and Scoil Eoin Phoil in Tullamore, all of which were closed on Monday of this week, while Tullamore Educate Together and Gaelscoil an Eiscir Riada made the decision to remain open to pupils and staff on Monday.

Scoil Phroinsiais Naofa boy's school in Clara was closed today, and will close again tomorrow due to what the school described as “the current and forecasted weather and taking into account the health and safety of our students/parents/guardians” in a message posted on their Facebook page.

Both Oaklands Community College and St. Mary's Secondary School in Edenderry also closed on Monday, with students returning to their classes yesterday.

Meanwhile, Colaiste Naomh Cormac in Kilcormac took the decision not to re-open after the Christmas break on Monday of this week, and was also closed yesterday due to the on-going severe weather warnings, but students returned to their classes at the school today.

An Orange Weather Warning is due to take effect from 6pm tonight until 11am tomorrow morning (Thursday) for all counties except Donegal, which will remain under a Status Yellow warning.

"As the extremely cold weather continues, widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow will again cause dangerous travelling conditions, travel disruption, and potential animal welfare issues.

"Tonight will again see lowest temperatures of between -3C and -8C. There will be severe frost, ice or black ice and patches of freezing fog. Thursday will also remain bitterly cold with frost, ice and freezing fog lingering throughout the day in many areas," the The National Emergency Co-ordination Group said in a briefing earlier today.