Many people have been spotted skiing and snowing in Wicklow, despite warnings to stay away from the mountains.

Wicklow is among the counties experiencing heavy snow and icy conditions with a Status Orange weather warning coming into effect this evening.

On Sunday, the Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team urged the public to heed weather warnings and to stay away from the Wicklow Mountains.

On Lunchtime Live, Independent Councillor for Wicklow Gerry O'Neill stressed that there are "no designated ski slopes in Wicklow".

"It's a little bit irresponsible [to ski]," he said. "There is no such thing as safe roads in Wicklow in these conditions."

Cllr O'Neill said the roads that lead to the Wicklow Mountains are "treacherous at the best of times".

"On the Sally Gap, there are drops there off the road that could be 20 or 30ft deep - that could be fatal, let alone being injured," he said.

Cllr O'Neill said he has seen people get "caught out" on the Mountains.

05/01/2025 Kildare, Leinster, Ireland. A lone runner in the snow on the Curragh Plains in Kildare, as the area was suddenly hit with a heavy snow fall in the late afternoon. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

EMT for Dubin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Philip Conroy warned that in this weather, conditions are "changeable".

"What we ask people to do is be mindful that the environment is different and the roads are different," he said.

"The key point is to be well-prepared and know what you're doing and not put yourself in a situation that you can't get back out of.

"We appreciate that people do want to get out, but at the same time be sensible and be mindful that the conditions are quite changeable."

Mr Conroy said there is always a risk when on Ireland's mountains.

"You can do everything right, and things could still go wrong," he said.

"If you're unsure of you have any doubts, we ask you to reconsider your options and not to push it to a point where you're going to have to call us."

Mr Conroy warned the Sally Gap and the Wicklow Gap are particularly treacherous in the current conditions.

Feature image shows people hiking in the snowy Wicklow Mountains.