Severe weather conditions are expected to cause travel disruption over the next 24 hours. Met Eireann has issued a nationwide status orange alert with gusts of up to 130 kilometres per hour forecast.

Road users in particular are being urged to be extremely careful when travelling around the country.

Wintry showers of hail, sleet or snow are expected with icy conditions on some roads. Stormy conditions are forecast overnight and on Christmas Eve - with showers of hail and sleet and snow.

Met Eireann says the combination of very strong winds and wintry showers will make for difficult driving conditions.

Brian Farrell from the Road Safety Authority says drivers must be extra vigilant.

Irish ferries have cancelled a number of swift ferries today between Dublin and Holyhead, but other lines are operating as scheduled.

All sailings on the Pembroke to Rosslare route for today have been cancelled.

Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of passengers are arriving and departing from Dublin Airport over the next few days.

The 24th and 27th of December are the busiest days and long queues are to be expected.

Passengers are also being reminded to check with the website of their airline for any changes to their flight or cancellations.