A NUMBER OF schools in counties Offaly, Longford, Mayo and Galway are closed today due to dangerous weather conditions caused by heavy snowfall over the weekend.

A Status Orange weather warning, which remains in place until 10am today, has left many people in rural parts of the country stranded this morning under a bed of snow and ice.

The worst affected counties are Roscommon, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan and the eastern half of Galway, AA Roadwatch is reporting.

The sub-zero conditions have made the roads treacherous for drivers, who are advised to completely clear their cars of snow and ice if they decide to take off this morning, to stay on national and regional routes and to leave plenty of time to make the journey to work.

Closed schools

St Francis Boys School Clara, in Co Offaly is closed “due to the weather and for health and safety reasons”.

Banagher College, Co Offaly has announced that it will open today at the later time of 10am, but the third year CSPE trip has been cancelled.

In Longford, primary and secondary schools across the north and south of the county are closed.

“It’s a good news for students if you wanted a day off today because it’s a wipeout in Co Longford in particular,” according to RTÉ News’ Ciaran Mullooly.

There are nine secondary schools in Longford with about 2,000 students normally. Eight of them are closed this morning.

He said that because of subzero temperatures, both private bus companies and teachers said they would have problems travelling in to school today.

Schools in east Galway and Mayo have also been closed today, according to RTÉ News. Other schools are expected to make a decision this morning on whether to open on time, to open at a later time, or to open at all.

The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.

Read: Warnings of treacherous road conditions as country wakes up to a freezing cold morning

Photos: It’s snowing in many parts of the country