Snow - Ireland closed for business

italodisco

No snow on the streets of dublin, mcgregor probably has the lot lol

emaherx

Mint Sauce wrote: »

This year and 2010 according to the article, is not every year though. The government could spend millions on equipment to keep the streets clear, and they might not be used for another 10 years. Thats not an exactly clever use of money either.

Enjoy your snowday, because I am.

Costs money to store and keep machines maintained also. Plus do we pay a standby crew of people to operate the machines every winter.... Just in case?

I actually think it's funny how many snow ploughs do be out gritting at the slightest risk of snow, they are often up and down the motorways in the rain wasting grit and diesel!


Plus after last year, farmers have been given the green light by government and some insurance companies to clear their local roads so we are actually fairly well equipped.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

David McWilliams (an economist, lest anyone forget) made the same trite point that the OP has made on Twitter during last March’s snow event. He was in Canada at the time and tut tut-ed at Ireland from across the miles. He received quite the backlash. His tweet looked especially bad seeing as he is an economist and should understand more than anyone why it makes sense for the Great White North to allocate a far higher percentage of money to winter infrastructure than Ireland.

Ush1

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

David McWilliams (an economist, lest anyone forget) made the same trite point that the OP has made on Twitter during last March’s snow event. He was in Canada at the time and tut tut-ed at Ireland from across the miles. He received quite the backlash. His tweet looked especially bad seeing as he is an economist and should understand more than anyone why it makes for the Great White North to allocate a far higher percentage of money to winter infrastructure than Ireland.

Also things regularly still go to sh*t in Toronto. My buddy is over there about 6 years and said they always wait too long before they make efforts to clear roads, grit etc..

Cee-Jay-Cee

Olivia Munns Bum wrote: »

When is Ireland closing for business?
Very much open for business in the Capital this morning.

Ireland extends further than Dublin. I know that’s probably news to you but it really does.

1874

Ush1 wrote: »

Also things regularly still go to sh*t in Toronto. My buddy is over there about 6 years and said they always wait too long before they make efforts to clear roads, grit etc..

Snow is whiter over there

JohnnyFlash

Some of the oddballs over on the weather forum are in a state of arousal at the thought of some snow. Getting excited about stocking up on tinned goods, gas canisters, and candles.

Auguste Comte

Balanadan wrote: »

When will the government and councils learn? Get the finger out, invest in proper equipment, and clear the facking roads so that we're not faced with annual chaos. The amount of money being lost is ridiculous.

Nice try Mr snow plough sales man......

seamus

whisky_galore wrote: »

The floundering around here when there's a dusting (by European standards) of snow. People not having the smarts on how to drive in the stuff, schools closed, laughable.

It's a bit hoity-toity though to be laughing at people who aren't skilled at dealing with scenarios which they've never seen before.

It's all well and good for someone who's had the privilege of travelling and living in different countries. Most people haven't.

This time last year, temperatures in L.A. dropped to 5 degrees celcius, and there was panic. Homeless people dying of hypothermia, shops sold out of anything which might look like a blanket or a space heater.

Which sounds insane when you come from a country where 5 degrees might be a fresh spring morning. But when you've built homes that assume it's never less than 10 degrees outside and virtually your entire wardrobe is "summer" clothes, you can see how this becomes an extreme weather event.

Likewise, if you live in the Alps and you're surrounded by snow for half of the year, you and your house will be equipped for that, and your snow driving and snow shovelling skills will be up there because you do it all the time.

If you're Irish you might have to do it once every five years and you're going to be sh1t at it.

Gimme A Pound

An awful lot of bait taking from the OP who just talks bollox all the time.

whisky_galore wrote: »

The floundering around here when there's a dusting (by European standards) of snow. People not having the smarts on how to drive in the stuff, schools closed, laughable.

European standards - exactly.

There is barely any snow in this country and therefore no point in spending on infrastructure, and we aren't used to it. But thankfully we have superior beings like you who just happen to be different to the rest of us plebs, to tell us what's what.

It's the same in Britain or any country/region that has an average of one short snow event for the entirety of each winter.

Balanadan

Brantley Fresh Trend wrote: »

An awful lot of bait taking from the OP who just talks bollox all the time.

European standards - exactly.

There is barely any snow in this country and therefore no point in spending on infrastructure and we aren't used to it. But thankfully we have superior beings like you who just happens to be different to the rest of us plebs, to tell us what's what.

How dare you!

dxhound2005

Why are foreigners so obsessed with the weather?

AllGunsBlazing

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Some of the oddballs over on the weather forum are in a state of arousal at the thought of some snow. Getting excited about stocking up on tinned goods, gas canisters, and candles.

It's good that boards set up that forum so as to keep them separated from the rest of the general population. Otherwise it would just lead to trouble.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Just a hard frost here this morning, no snow.

TheIrishGrover

Annual chaos?......... OK.

And when they spends 100s of thousands for enough machinery to clear the country and hire the staff and they are used MAYBE one day every few years everyone will scream about the spend.

Personally my problem with last year's snow was that it didn't affect me at all work-wise.

The worst thing about being able to work from home?.... Being able to work from home.

oneilla

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

You dismiss Irish snow days at your peril, OP

Lest we forget imo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFEZ5_zlS0w

Was it ever discovered if he is alright?

Boom_Bap

oneilla wrote: »

Was it ever discovered if he is alright?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukp1dwISkT4

Olivia Munns Bum

oneilla wrote: »

Was it ever discovered if he is alright?

Nobody cared because it was too funny.
His wellbeing was sacrificed for comedy

questionmark?

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Drivers need to learn to drive too. If I get stuck behind one more 2nd gear crawler, I'll blow the ditch away to get around them :mad:

How dare people who are nervous of dangerous conditions take their time whilst thinking safety over been on time is more important!!

2smiggy

My friend used to travel with a lad named John to work , they used to take turns to drive ever second week.

Even if they were late the other lad John used to say ' better John being late, than being the late John' :pac:

Hotblack Desiato

VinLieger wrote: »

Ive lived in Ireland for 33 years before last year the last time snow caused any issues was in 2009 and 2010 and even that was just a day or two of inconvenience, before that ive no memory of snow causing anything like what you describe

Last time before 2009 would have been 1982. Says it all really.

VinLieger wrote: »

1 week of snow in 1 year is not reason enough to spend 10's of millions to purchase the equipment and then all the resulting overheads of storing and maintaining the equipment.

We generally don't, most if not all councils have demountable snowplough blades and gritters they can fit to their ordinary lorries when needed.

Hotblack Desiato

Took my motorbike to work this morning as usual, a lot less traffic around than normal, must be a lot of soft sh*tes tucked up in bed...

The Tetrarch

Yellow snow and ice warning remains in effect
https://www.rte.ie/news/weather/2019/0130/1026388-weather-ireland/

I assume it is "do not eat yellow snow"

Renegade Mechanic

questionmark? wrote: »

How dare people who are nervous of dangerous conditions take their time whilst thinking safety over been on time is more important!!

I simply REFUSE. I normally leave home and take a half hour. Today - like all days like this - I take 45 minutes. 5 minutes brushing off snow and clearing all windows/mirrors and lights while my yoke warms up and 10 minutes on a head start because roads on which 50 or 60mph are the norm become roads on which 30 or 40 is safer.

I should not have to sit behind someone crawling at 15 because their summer Wanlis "passed the NCT" and they find it difficult to see through the football sized hole they made in the condensation. Or because they are terrified of ice. At 15 mph it's easy to stop and let someone pass. If they can see them. Which they can't.. Feck em.
I will dig myself to the core of the earth on this

El_Bee

looks like Dublin will escape the snow

DEFTLEFTHAND

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

I simply REFUSE. I normally leave home and take a half hour. Today - like all days like this - I take 45 minutes. 5 minutes brushing off snow and clearing all windows/mirrors and lights while my yoke warms up and 10 minutes on a head start because roads on which 50 or 60mph are the norm become roads on which 30 or 40 is safer.

I should not have to sit behind someone crawling at 15 because their summer Wanlis "passed the NCT" and they find it difficult to see through the football sized hole they made in the condensation. Or because they are terrified of ice. At 15 mph it's easy to stop and let someone pass. If they can see them. Which they can't.. Feck em.
I will dig myself to the core of the earth on this

At 15 kph they become a road hazard themselves.

A line of frustrated motorists builds behind, it's inevitable then that somebody will snap and attempt a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. Many accidents and deaths have been caused by this type of behaviour throughout the yrs.

It's advisable to inform the Gardai if you see somebody driving in the middle of the lane at 15 kph.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Parts of the north-west have shut down because of snow far more often than east. Still, it's not an annual event.

Balanadan

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Parts of the north-west have shut down because of snow far more often than east. Still, it's not an annual event.

I'm sick of hearing the same thing, every facking year.

Fighting Tao

Balanadan wrote: »

I'm sick of hearing the same thing, every facking year.

Now you know how some people feel about the threads you start :pac:

VinLieger

Balanadan wrote: »

I'm sick of hearing the same thing, every facking year.

Except as proven it doesnt happen every year.......

VinLieger

GAA Beo wrote: »

Can't get to the pub, no lift later and the local taxis won't fancy it tonight in these conditions. Local Link and get a taxi they say. Except they only run when they feel like it. Great job again Shane Ross/Fine Gael

You could go and not drink alcohol.....

CrankyHaus

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

At 15 kph they become a road hazard themselves.

A line of frustrated motorists builds behind, it's inevitable then that somebody will snap and attempt a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. Many accidents and deaths have been caused by this type of behaviour throughout the yrs.

It's advisable to inform the Gardai if you see somebody driving in the middle of the lane at 15 kph.

The more dangerous thing arising from such driving in freezing and snowy conditions is an inability to get up ascents in low speed at high revs in low gears. Drivers may think they are being safe making an ascent at a very low speed whereas it's actually more dangerous. Examples may be general long ascents, motorway access and egress ramps and humpbacked canal and railway bridges. In other circumstances I'd say grit your teeth and let them at it.

chrissb8

emaherx wrote: »

Annual chaos? Really?
Oh you live in a different country?

Personally I'd rather not waste taxpayers money on equipment that will only really be used every 40 years and maybe played with a little every 10.

No we are not as well equipped as countries that live under a blanket of snow and nor should we.

Err yes we should be. People will still try try drive & walk out in that weather. There are elderly people who will become isolated as a result of bad weather upto a week at times. And yes why should the country shut down due to bad weather.

Why not be a prepared nation? We had snow last year....and we're looking like we'll have it this year. Is that not frequent enough for you? What? Sit on our laurels and just accept it?!

There are plenty of reasons to invest in equipment to prepare for the snow. Not have stupid bread & milk rushes because a truck can't make it down the road.

It doesn't take much to prepare for it. The money lost in trade and commerce is a disaster in comparison to shelling out a bit of money to be prepared.

It makes perfect sense from every perspective to be ready and prepared.

Balanadan

chrissb8 wrote: »

Err yes we should be. People will still try try drive & walk out in that weather. There are elderly people who will become isolated as a result of bad weather upto a week at times. And yes why should the country shut down due to bad weather.

Why not be a prepared nation? We had snow last year....and we're looking like we'll have it this year. Is that not frequent enough for you? What? Sit on our laurels and just accept it?!

There are plenty of reasons to invest in equipment to prepare for the snow. Not have stupid bread & milk rushes because a truck can't make it down the road.

It doesn't take much to prepare for it. The money lost in trade and commerce is a disaster in comparison to shelling out a bit of money to be prepared.

It makes perfect sense from every perspective to be ready and prepared.

Exactly. The cost of the equipment is paltry in comparison to the economic and social cost of a shutdown.

freshpopcorn

chrissb8 wrote: »

Err yes we should be. People will still try try drive & walk out in that weather. There are elderly people who will become isolated as a result of bad weather upto a week at times. And yes why should the country shut down due to bad weather.

Why not be a prepared nation? We had snow last year....and we're looking like we'll have it this year. Is that not frequent enough for you? What? Sit on our laurels and just accept it?!

There are plenty of reasons to invest in equipment to prepare for the snow. Not have stupid bread & milk rushes because a truck can't make it down the road.

It doesn't take much to prepare for it. The money lost in trade and commerce is a disaster in comparison to shelling out a bit of money to be prepared.

It makes perfect sense from every perspective to be ready and prepared.

I suppose you think all urban areas should have heated pavements as well!

pxdf9i5cmoavkz

I have already started stockpiling tea, bread and biscuits for the 2 days of snow we may get.

Easy neighbours have been identified for when the worst comes and by easy I mean easy to cook :cool:

Last time I got caught unprepared and survived nary a scratch but not this time, Snow. Not this time. This time I'm joining in on the hysteria of snow in Ireland.

emaherx

chrissb8 wrote: »

Err yes we should be. People will still try try drive & walk out in that weather. There are elderly people who will become isolated as a result of bad weather upto a week at times. And yes why should the country shut down due to bad weather.

Why not be a prepared nation? We had snow last year....and we're looking like we'll have it this year. Is that not frequent enough for you? What? Sit on our laurels and just accept it?!

There are plenty of reasons to invest in equipment to prepare for the snow. Not have stupid bread & milk rushes because a truck can't make it down the road.

It doesn't take much to prepare for it. The money lost in trade and commerce is a disaster in comparison to shelling out a bit of money to be prepared.

It makes perfect sense from every perspective to be ready and prepared.

Can't compare this year to last year yet. Any drifts blocking roads over a meter deep yet? Anywhere? No there isn't, we are sufficiently equipped for current conditions. Last year was the worst in 40 years.

We have some snow nearly every year but not snow that shuts the country down as per the title of this thread.

Personally I'd rather see the nurses paid properly and a functioning HSE before a massive investment in snow equipment.

salmocab

The equipment and manpower needed to completely clean all our roads in weather like last year would be a massive cost. Even if we had all the ploughs and machinery sitting there for years unused we would need qualified people to use it. The guy that works in the county council post room is very unlikely to have the necessary license to drive a lorry. Even around New York last November they struggled and they get it yearly.

Renegade Mechanic

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

At 15 kph they become a road hazard themselves.

A line of frustrated motorists builds behind, it's inevitable then that somebody will snap and attempt a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. Many accidents and deaths have been caused by this type of behaviour throughout the yrs.

It's advisable to inform the Gardai if you see somebody driving in the middle of the lane at 15 kph.

Sorry, I was using old money, it'd be maybe 25 kph
And it wouldn't be on the motorway at all, twould be more regional and national roads.
I wouldn't really waste Peeler time on slow pokes either. I'll happily sit behind some on going under the limit in the height of summer, wouldn't bother me in the least, but the sheer extreme levels of slow do get to me..
The only time I had to do 25kph was during the heavy snowfall at night last year. In fact I went well slower still. The lights it up the snow in front of me which became all but blinding once the heavy stuff started t fall.. Didn't matter what lights you went for.. Slowly but surely caught up with a set of tail lights and drove buddy-buddy with them until my turn off

branie2

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

emaherx

salmocab wrote: »

The equipment and manpower needed to completely clean all our roads in weather like last year would be a massive cost. Even if we had all the ploughs and machinery sitting there for years unused we would need qualified people to use it. The guy that works in the county council post room is very unlikely to have the necessary license to drive a lorry. Even around New York last November they struggled and they get it yearly.

Equipment bought by council's after 1982 rusted away in council yards and were eventually scrapped long before they were ever needed.

ednwireland

Manchester airport closed until 11am this morning after 2 inches of snow. Now that's a normal amount and they couldn't cope.

NSAman

Might the other option be private snow removal services?

Today is the first time I have actually seen my town closed. Not due to snow, that we can deal with but actual dangerously cold tempuratures.

Most lawn care guys here have snow plows for the winter time. A lucrative thing here. I know not every year and not in every place in Ireland is a snow plow needed but once bought it can be used over and over again. They charge depending on the length of the driveway and how much plowing is needed here...

Just a thought..

emaherx

NSAman wrote: »

Might the other option be private snow removal services?

Today is the first time I have actually seen my town closed. Not due to snow, that we can deal with but actual dangerously cold tempuratures.

Most lawn care guys here have snow plows for the winter time. A lucrative thing here. I know not every year and not in every place in Ireland is a snow plow needed but once bought it can be used over and over again. They charge depending on the length of the driveway and how much plowing is needed here...

Just a thought..

What part of the world are you in?

Really dosen't snow often enough for private lads to buy snow equipment and very few would hire them as it will be gone by Saturday with probably a few thaws in between anyway.

NSAman

emaherx wrote: »

What part of the world are you in?

Really dosen't snow often enough for private lads to buy snow equipment and very few would hire them as it will be gone by Saturday with probably a few thaws in between anyway.

Just outside Chicago

demanufactured

All good to me....
OP, wha ya on abowwww?

Atoms for Peace

I'm cold and frightened.

AllForIt

branie2 wrote: »

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I want to experience a polar vortex!

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/1080085/polar-vortex-what-latest-alerts-snow-buries-USA-weather

Rubberchikken

im at work. snow doesnt stop me:)

Dakota Dan

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Drivers need to learn to drive too. If I get stuck behind one more 2nd gear crawler, I'll blow the ditch away to get around them :mad:

Six posts in and Ireland’s greatest driver arrives, well done.