In pictures: Heavy snow blankets large parts of the country as cold snap arrives

Snow fell on Sunday across Munster and southern Leinster, leaving tens of thousands without power and water as part of forecast set to last all week

Damien Brett and his daughter Fiadh (7) clear the snow from their driveway near Castlewarren, Co Kilkenny. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Damien Brett and his daughter Fiadh (7) clear the snow from their driveway near Castlewarren, Co Kilkenny. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A snowy scene above the upper lake, Glendalough, Co Wicklow.  Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
A snowy scene above the upper lake, Glendalough, Co Wicklow. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
People make their way through snow to mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Killeshin, Co Laois. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
People make their way through snow to mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Killeshin, Co Laois. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
A snow plough and gritting lorry in Ballylynan, Co Laois. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
A snow plough and gritting lorry in Ballylynan, Co Laois. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Icicles at the Wicklow Gap mountain pass in Co Wicklow. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Icicles at the Wicklow Gap mountain pass in Co Wicklow. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Race horses and riders head out for early morning  exercise on the frost-covered Curragh in Co Kildare. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
Race horses and riders head out for early morning exercise on the frost-covered Curragh in Co Kildare. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
A cyclist in the Dublin Mountains. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A cyclist in the Dublin Mountains. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
An ESB repair crew fix a broken power line due to a fallen tree in the hills close to Castlewarren near Kilkenny City. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
An ESB repair crew fix a broken power line due to a fallen tree in the hills close to Castlewarren near Kilkenny City. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A Kilkenny County Council snow plough clears the road near Kilkenny City. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A Kilkenny County Council snow plough clears the road near Kilkenny City. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
ESB crews tend to a fallen line in the hills close to Castlewarren near Kilkenny City. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
ESB crews tend to a fallen line in the hills close to Castlewarren near Kilkenny City. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A man clears snow from the pavement in Ballylynan, Co Laois. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
A man clears snow from the pavement in Ballylynan, Co Laois. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Walking at the Wicklow Gap mountain pass in Co Wicklow. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Walking at the Wicklow Gap mountain pass in Co Wicklow. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Local man Pat Kenny clears the roads around the Wicklow Gap, a job he has been doing since the 1970s. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Local man Pat Kenny clears the roads around the Wicklow Gap, a job he has been doing since the 1970s. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Snowy and foggy conditions in the Wicklow Gap, Co Wicklow. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Snowy and foggy conditions in the Wicklow Gap, Co Wicklow. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times