London and Dublin have had their odds slashed on having a white Christmas in 2011 after the first snowfalls in the UK were recorded on Monday 5th December 2011. Odds for North America are very slim indeed as a cold snap has been forecast for parts of the USA post-Thanksgiving.
Madrid, Barcelona and Paris have the longest odds from Paddypower, the Irish bookmaker, at 10/1. The Northern UK cities of Blackpool, Leeds and Manchester are all expected to see a sprinkling of the white stuff over Yuletide with odds of 3/1.
Severe weather warnings have been issued by the UK’s Met Office as deep snow is expected in Western and Northern Scotland over the coming week, as well as Northern Ireland. Met Éireann has issued weather warnings as it expects sleet and showers in Ulster and north Connacht as well as gales at the coasts from Slyne Head to Fair Head to Carnsore Point and the Irish Sea.
The UK Met Office’s long forecast anticipates snow on higher ground in Northern parts of the UK over Christmas.
In This Story: Ireland
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel.
Geopolitically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. As of 2016, 4.8 million people live in the Republic of Ireland, and 1.8 million live in Northern Ireland.
The Irish climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and thus very moderate, and winters are milder than expected for such a northerly area, although summers are cooler than those in continental Europe. Rainfall and cloud cover are abundant.
A strong Irish culture exists, as expressed through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language. The island’s culture shares many features with that of Great Britain, including the English language, and sports such as association football, rugby, horse racing, and golf.
