Snow - Ireland closed for business

namloc1980 · 30-01-2019 10:03AM

Where's this chaos and shutdown the OP is warbling on about? In Cork all going well although rural roads are a bit hairy alright. No shutdown though. Sounds like the OP was looking for a day off in the scratcher.

CrankyHaus · 30-01-2019 10:15AM

Councils have actually done a very good job over the last 10 years in improving how they deal with snow.

I remember during the big freeze in 2010 it was chaotic: a total lack of preparation, shortages of grit and equipment, the Minister for Transport refusing to come back from his Winter Sun Holiday as the country's transport system ground to a halt, out my way Council workers were reduced to shovelling sand out the back of a pickup truck.

Since then the amounts of precautionary gritting have gone way up and general Council responses to snow are far improved. Last year was actually a decent response to an unusual weather event. Expecting us to operate as normal through heavy snowfalls that rarely occur is unrealistic and would be deeply wasteful as the required investment would be idle the vast majority of the time.

AllGunsBlazing · 30-01-2019 10:17AM

You dismiss Irish snow days at your peril, OP

Lest we forget imo...

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

Mint Sauce · 30-01-2019 10:20AM

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:

They want to learn to clear the snow off their cars as well. The amount driving around where the only clear spots, are what their wipers cleared, is ridiculous.

:mad:

salmocab · 30-01-2019 10:22AM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

They want to learn to clear the snow off their cars as well. The amount driving around where the only clear spots, are what their wipers cleared, is ridiculous.

:mad:

Now that is genuinely something that people need to sort out. Tap the brakes and windscreen get covered

malinheader · 30-01-2019 10:24AM

Knowing how to drive the right way on bad conditions, and alot of people skimping on cheap tyres is a big part of the problem in my area

Mint Sauce · 30-01-2019 10:26AM

Balanadan wrote: »

Get over yourself https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/storm-emma/economic-cost-of-blizzard-to-rise-above-160m-36661130.html

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.

whisky_galore · 30-01-2019 10:27AM

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.

Mint Sauce · 30-01-2019 10:28AM

salmocab wrote: »

Now that is genuinely something that people need to sort out. Tap the brakes and windscreen get covered

Thats one thing, although I would also be concerned how well they can see out of the car and around it, due to the snow NOT cleared from the side windows too.

Red Alert · 30-01-2019 10:29AM

It happens infrequently enough in Ireland that it wouldn't I suspect be economic to equip with large amounts of equipment for clearing snow.

The main complainers are the business community who seem intent on complaining about the <2 days of shutdown we get on annual average, rather than looking at themselves and their own inherent inefficiencies, hostility to remote work for employees could could do so, inflexibility regarding start/end times.

Captain Chaos · 30-01-2019 10:29AM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

They want to learn to clear the snow off their cars as well. The amount driving around where the only clear spots, are what their wipers cleared, is ridiculous.

:mad:

I'm only back from Iceland, alot of them over there don't bother either. Only clear the windows while leaving about half a foot of snow on the roof and drive.

TCM · 30-01-2019 10:30AM

It's a beautiful crisp morning. No snow

30-01-2019 10:30AM

I wouldn't give a damn if there's 7 feet of snow once we don't have to put up with those bread jokes again. Fcuk me, they got stale quick. Stale, get it. Ha ha ha. Fcuk off!

topper75 · 30-01-2019 10:31AM

We share this 'shutdown' experience with the UK and western France.

Possibly not because we are stupid but because we live in a part of the world that doesn't often get snow.

Why do people try to do comparisons with 'Europe'. You don't see NY'ers comparing themselves with New Mexico.

Renegade Mechanic · 30-01-2019 10:31AM

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Go for it, drives as fast as possible over the ditch

Kiss my arse!

, If you can't do more than 10/15mph in these conditions you have no business on the road. Stay home so that those of us who leave ten minutes earlier don't still wind up arriving late.

Edit: They're probably the same morons driving up my hole when I'm doing 50 or overtaking me in towns..

Graces7 · 30-01-2019 10:34AM

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.

When I lived up in the Scottish North Isles we had serious snow every winter. The island lorry had a snowplough attachement and when that failed the farmers sorted it .. not a high cost and effective

salmocab · 30-01-2019 10:37AM

Graces7 wrote: »

When I lived up in the Scottish North Isles we had serious snow every winter. The island lorry had a snowplough attachement and when that failed the farmers sorted it .. not a high cost and effective

Councils have snow plough attachments for trucks and do a decent job of clearing. They can only do mainnroads as they are obviously limited by equipment and personnel. The problem is the snow keeps falling and some people expect to get into their cars and have no snow on any tarmac.

whisky_galore · 30-01-2019 10:40AM

Omackeral wrote: »

I wouldn't give a damn if there's 7 feet of snow once we don't have to put up with those bread jokes again. Fcuk me, they got stale quick. Stale, get it. Ha ha ha. Fcuk off!

I wouldn't mind if it was decent bread but it was that doughy Brennan's rubbish.

Canyon86 · 30-01-2019 10:41AM

I believe there should be a better arrangement between Employers and Employees on days like today,

For example in certain jobs where possible work from home! I know some jobs dont have this option, but at least it would take a body of cars off the road

I work in I.T myself so i can work from home on days like today,

Mint Sauce · 30-01-2019 10:45AM

Unfortunetly, crews cant keep every road clear all off the time. A fresh fall, depending on time of day, or night, might only just cover whhat was just cleared. Plus grit/salt, is only effective, if there is traffic, to aid spread. No traffic, and fresh snow fall will just cover it, or wash it away again.

italodisco · 30-01-2019 10:49AM

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

emaherx · 30-01-2019 10:50AM

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 · 30-01-2019 10:52AM

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 · 30-01-2019 10:55AM

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 · 30-01-2019 10:58AM

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.

30-01-2019 10:59AM

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 · 30-01-2019 11:03AM

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 · 30-01-2019 11:10AM

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 · 30-01-2019 11:12AM

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 · 30-01-2019 12:03PM

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.

Snow - Ireland closed for business

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