By Denis O’Brien



Snowfalls over the weekend together with icy roads made driving conditions throughout Leitrim hazardous with numerous snow-related incidents. Thankfully there were no reports of injuries.  Last Friday morning brought the first snow of the new year with a blanket of the white stuff covering much of the county. Sub zero temperatures had the local authority out gritting National Roads on Thursday night and again on all road major surfaces early Friday morning. 

However, snow quickly accumulated on all roads during mid morning with the conditions causing many vehicles to slide off roads.
Traffic around Carrick-on-Shannon slowed to a crawl as motorists found the conditions extremely taxing. Numerous cars ended up veering off roads and into ditches, while a number of small ‘fender-benders’ were also reported.

In the north of the county, further incidents were reported with the N16 Manorhamilton to Glenfarne particularly dangerous. Snow and black ice was responsible for a three-lorry pile up just past the Glencar Waterfall lay-by. One vehicle ended up in the middle of the road while the other two lorries ended in ditches. Nobody was injured in the accident but as a result the road had to be blocked off for several hours.

Snow and icy roads were also responsible for several minor vehicle incidents in the Boyle area, reported Gardai.  



There was a further heavy snow fall on Sunday evening, mainly in the south of the county, that left Carrick-on-Shannon looking particularly festive for the night. Many children took advantage of the fall to build snowmen, but heavy over-night rains had washed the snow away by Monday morning.