Mixed Saturday with Sunny Breaks in West

Saturday saw overcast skies across many parts of Ireland, but there were some sunny breaks, especially in the western half of the country.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite passed over the island shortly before midday on Saturday, capturing a mix of cloud cover and clear spells over western counties.

Zoomed-in satellite imagery reveals sunshine breaking through in southwest Kerry, Sligo, and Leitrim, as well as over Galway Bay — showcasing Galway City and the Burren hills of North Clare.

Sunshine has been in short supply over the past week, particularly in the east. Dublin Airport recorded just 10.8 hours of sunshine, which is only 30% of the average for this time of year. Meanwhile, Cork Airport enjoyed a brighter week with 29.5 hours of sunshine, amounting to 79% of the typical average.

With a mixed forecast ahead, sunshine levels are expected to return closer to normal in the coming days.