AFTER A WEEK that saw Ireland hit its hottest May temperature ever (30.5 degrees was logged on Tuesday) the June bank holiday weekend is shaping up to feel a little more familiar weather-wise.
Met Éireann says the long weekend ahead will bring a mix of sunshine, showers, and some longer spells of rain at times as cooler Atlantic weather returns after several days of heat.
It won’t be a washout, but you’ll probably want to keep a light rain jacket somewhere nearby.
Still, with festivals, concerts and outdoor events happening right across the country, there should be plenty of dry windows for people heading out over the long weekend.
Dublin
Dublin has one of the busiest weekends in the country, with thousands expected at concerts and festivals across the city.
CMAT takes over St Anne’s Park on Saturday night, while Snow Patrol headline the same venue on Sunday.
Forbidden Fruit music festival also returns to Kilmainham (on the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art) this weekend, bringing tens of thousands of music fans into the capital.
And, if you’re not a music lover, Bloom is on all weekend in the Phoenix Park.
Saturday in Dublin is expected to be mild and fairly humid, with temperatures reaching 18 to 20 degrees.
There’ll be some sunny spells but also a fair amount of cloud. There’s also occasional showers or longer bursts of rain expected later in the day on Saturday.
Sunday currently looks slightly better overall, with warm spells of sunshine mixed with scattered showers and highs again around 19 or 20 degrees.
North West
The Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon is likely to see classic Donegal festival weather, meaning a bit of everything.
The north-west will see some of the most unsettled conditions.
Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will dominate Saturday morning, particularly in Donegal, before gradually breaking into showers later in the day.
Some of these could turn heavy, and there is a chance of isolated thunderstorms.
That could affect other outdoor plans in Leitrim and Roscommon, including Night & Day at Lough Key Forest Park and Cowboys & Heroes in Drumcoura.
Despite the showers, there will be occasional brighter or sunny spells, with temperature highs of 15 to 18 degrees.
Cork
The Cork Harbour Festival, Kinsale Trad Fest and Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s open-air recitals in Youghal may dodge the worst of the rain across Munster, though conditions are still expected to stay somewhat unsettled.
The iconic Cork City Marathon also returns on Sunday, along with a supporting half-marathon and 10km event.
Munster is forecast to begin Saturday cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, but brighter conditions and sunny spells should develop later in the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures will range from 15 to 19 degrees, coolest along southern coasts.
South East
The Wexford Maritime Festival gets under way this weekend with live music, family events and waterfront activities planned across the county.
The South East currently looks set to fare slightly better than western counties overall, particularly later in the weekend.
Saturday should stay relatively warm with highs near 18 or 19 degrees, although occasional rain and drizzle will move through during the day before brighter spells arrive later.
Bank holiday Monday currently looks mixed but manageable, with cloudy conditions and patchy rain in the morning gradually giving way to some brighter spells and scattered showers later on.
Galway
Headfest, an event in Headford, Co Galway which claims to bring together “music, sport, community events and local enterprise, with something for all ages”, is set for a mixed weekend, with sunshine and showers expected throughout.
Saturday will be changeable, starting cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle before turning more showery later, with some brighter spells developing in the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures will reach around 15 to 18 degrees.
Sunday and Monday look similarly unsettled, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, though there will be dry windows for outdoor music and community events along the Corrib.