Some are enjoying the snow in the Phoenix Park as heavy snowfalls and freezing conditions continue. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

Expats flying home to Ireland over the next few days are being advised to keep an eye on their airline websites for possible delays or cancellations, as a result of the severe weather conditions there.

While flights in and out of Cork and Shannon Airports are running as normal, flights at Dublin Airport were suspended for the second time yesterday.

Snow and ice have caused transport chaos this week, particularly in Leinster and the southeast of the country. Siobhan Moore from the Dublin Airport Authority says it’s hoped the airport will re-open from half past midnight Irish time tonight, or 1130 am AEST.

“That’s the plan anyway so… so far so good,” she told the Irish Echo. “Nothing will happen tonight anyway because nothing is scheduled, but they’re looking at the resumption of business in the morning.”

Sydney based travel agent Celtic Travel says they’ve had one couple so far whose travel plans have been affected by the weather.

“They were due to travel from Dublin tomorrow morning to pick up a flight from Heathrow to Sydney,” says spokesperson Georgina Finn. “We’ve had to divert them to Shannon instead. They were also supposed to meet friends in Dublin, but that’s all gone by the by now…its not the end the world though, people understand that these things happen.”

The next Etihad flight out of Dublin Airport is scheduled for 8.50 am Irish time, with the current status of the flight listed as “on time” on the airline’s website.

Meanwhile, An Post says deliveries have been “seriously curtailed” as a result of the adverse conditions. Deliveries to Dublin 3,5,13,16,17, Glenageary, Enniscorthy, Waterford and New Ross have been cancelled outright.

For updates on conditions at Dublin Airport check out: www.dublinairportauthority.com.

by Claire McGreal