The southeast enjoyed the brightest conditions in the country last week, standing in stark contrast to the rest of Ireland where cloud and rain dominated.

Met Éireann data shows Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford recorded 42.5 hours of sunshine, 120 per cent of the average. Most other regions were well below normal. Knock Airport in Co Mayo had just 13.6 hours, little more than half the expected level.

Rainfall levels told a different story. Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry reported the highest accumulation at 48mm, almost 180 per cent of average. Johnstown Castle recorded the lowest at 9.5mm, less than half the norm.

Temperatures were also above average nationwide, with Cork the warmest location at 17.3 degrees. The coolest was Knock Airport on 15.3 degrees. Conditions are expected to return to seasonal levels this week, with mean air temperatures of 13 to 15 degrees.

Looking ahead, the forecast is for unsettled conditions with above average rainfall and below average sunshine across the country, including in the southeast which has so far escaped the duller weather.