Past week was drier and sunnier than average

Shannon Airport recorded just 0.4mm of rainfall over the past week.

Rainfall was well below average nationwide with less than half the usual rainfall across the south and southeast of the country and less than 10% of normal for the rest.

It was sunnier than normal across Ireland. Cork Airport recorded 28 hours of sunshine (125% of the average) while Malin Head in County Donegal recorded the most with 37.1 hours (177% of the average).

Temperatures were above average across the country.

Met Eireann says temperatures ranged from 6.8C at Dublin Airport to 9.7C at Valentia Observatory in Kerry, equating to between just above normal to nearly 2C above normal.

The largely dry conditions will continue into next week and temperatures will rise to well above average levels, hitting the mid-teens by mid-week.