"While the cold snap is going to continue over Sunday, there will be a significant rise in temperature early next week, " said Met Eireann's Jerry Scully. "Rain will affect the west of the country on Monday afternoon and we expect that temperatures will be back up into double figures."

It is expected that showers of rain and sleet will be confined to the west and north of the country today and snow showers will be confined to areas of high ground.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) and Age Action Ireland have sent out a warning to all farmers to keep an eye on their elderly or isolated neighbours during the cold weather.

Gabriel Gilmartin, ICSA sheep vice-chairman said:

"Thursday night was one of the coldest in a decade, and the elderly in our communities may be finding it difficult to cope so please check on your elderly or vulnerable neighbours."

Bookmaker Paddy Power is offering odds of 25-1 for an inch of snow on St Patrick's Day in Dublin and 5000-1 for the Liffey to freeze over on the same day.