Met Eireann are contining to issue Orange and yellow warning for snow and wind across the country. An organge warning has been called in Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Tipperary for tonight (Saturday 9 Dec 2017) and tomorrow at 11pm. Meanwhile, A status yellow warning has been issued for wind in Clare, Galway, Kerry Limerick and Waterford, for tomorrow at 12 noon. Heavy rainfall is expected in Wexford, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford. With now and ice expected in Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo and Waterford.

The Social Democrats Leader resigns from party. Stephen Donnelly one of the three leaders of the Social Democrats has left the his position of co-leader of the Social Democrats, a party set up by leading independent TDs before the last general election. Roisin Shorthal and Catherine Murphy remain as co-leaders and as of yet the party has no plans to vote in a single leader, but as a third of their TD's leave the party the position may become available.

With the exit of Phil Hogan to Brussels, Carlow-Kilkenny is the 5th by-election since the general election 2011. By-elections take place when a member of the Dail (TD) vacates their seat. In this instance the seat was left vacant by the promotion of the Environment Minister to an EU commissioner. There are 9 candidates in the running for the seat. 3 women and 6 men. Bobby Aylward, Fianna Fáil, David Fitzgeral, Fine Gael, Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin, Breda Gardner, Independent, Patrick McKee, Renua Ireland, Conor MacLiam, Anti-Austerity Alliance, Malcolm Noonan, Green Party, Willie Quinn, Labour Party and Adrienne Wallace, People Before Profit.

There are 2 electoral areas in Carlow. Carlow will elect 10 members to the County Council, while the remaining 8 members will come from the Muinebeag electoral area.

The Arts Office at Waterford County Council in association with the ArtLinks Partners in Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford are now taking applications for the ArtLinks Bursary Awards 2014. This is the 8th year of the bursary, which supports artists in Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford.