The roof of a sports complex in Tralee, Co Kerry has collapsed under heavy snow.

Emergency services were alerted at 7am this morning following the collapse of a roof at Tralee Regional Sports and Leisure Complex.

The building was empty at the time and no injuries have been reported.

It has since been secured by emergency services while the building and grounds have been closed to the public.

The exact cause of the collapse has not yet been determined and it is intended that a full assessment of the complex will be carried out this week to determine the next steps.

Heavy snowfall has impacted many areas in the southwest of the country in recent days with a fresh Status Yellow Snow-Ice warning in effect for the entire country until midday tomorrow.

Kerry has been experiencing particularly severe weather conditions over the past number of days with driving snow, wind, rain and sleet hitting the southwest coast hard, resulting in large snow accumulations in places.

Chair of the management board of the sports centre Jim Finucane said the building was extensively damaged after heavy snow fell on the metal roof triggering the collapse.

Mr Finucane said the two pools in the complex appear to have escaped the damage.

The complex, which was opened in 1977, is jointly run by Kerry County Council and Kerry Education and Training Board.

It houses a 25 metre swimming pool, a 12.5 metre learners' pool, an 830 square metre sports hall, a gym, two squash courts, two handball and racquetball courts, a seven- a-side astroturf pitch and two five-a-side astroturf pitches

It attracts over 300,000 visits each year and is currently in the process of upgrading many of the facilities including the recent installation of a new sports hall floor.

The chairperson of Garvey's Tralee Warriors basketball club fears the complex will have to be completely rebuilt after the collapse.

Warriors are currently third in the Men's Super League - which they won in 2022 - and also have teams in the women's development and Under 20s leagues.

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