People have been “thoroughly advised against” going up the mountains during the cold snap by the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team. 

The service said that many of the mountains in Leinster are currently covered in ice and they have received a number of calls from families who went up to admire the snow and got stuck. 

“We’re getting a lot of polished areas,” deputy team leader of Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team Ronan Friel told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“So, where the snow was passable in some cars, it’s now either 4x4s or snow chains. 

“So many cars are travelling across it, it’s become very polished; so, it’s become extremely icy because there’s no thaw. 

“You just go around the bend and the car has zero control. 

“Some of these people are just going up for a photograph, just going up to enjoy themselves and find themselves in a predicament.” 

An emergency services jeep passes by the snow covered trees in the West Wicklow mountains. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Met Éireann has issued an Orange Weather warning for 19 counties from 7pm on Wednesday until noon on Thursday.

It means the weather will be especially cold during that time period and if you do plan on visiting the mountains but do not have a 4x4, Mr Friel’s advice is clear.  

“I thoroughly advise against it,” he said.  

“It’s an unfortunate thing, you’ll be going along and it will be fine and all of a sudden it’ll be an area that is just ice. 

“We’ve had multiple callouts to a couple of areas that are a golden spot for us to go up and it can be very dangerous for any families or vehicles to go up there that isn’t well equipped.” 

For those who plan to go up regardless, Mr Friel had this suggestion: 

“We highly advise people to go up and use your sense and own personal responsibility to know your limits.” 

Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team is an entirely voluntary organisation that is available to help people 24 hours a day in upland areas of Dublin, Wicklow and Louth. 

It has 60 members and is based in Roundwood, County Wicklow.

Main image: Glenmalure valley. Picture by: Alamy.com