While miserably wet weather tried to spoil people's plans for the bank holiday weekend, Met Éireann has said brighter, drier conditions can be expected throughout Ireland today.
The east and midlands saw the worst of the weather over the weekend, with more than 80mm of rain recorded at Dublin Airport on Saturday. Up to 60mm was recorded across many parts of Leinster, where an orange level rainfall warning was issued by the forecaster.
Few places escaped downpours with Cavan, Monaghan, Tipperary and Waterford all experiencing local flooding with excess water still on many roads yesterday evening.
Several roads in Dublin, including the M1 motorway, were flooded and Dart services were disrupted for several hours on Saturday morning due to flooding between Greystones/Bray and Dún Laoghaire.
A reprieve from the rain in all parts of the country, except Ulster, last night will last into today, said Met Éireann forecaster Eoin Sherlock. "Normal service has resumed, the Atlantic is back in flow and there will be a decent enough start to the bank holiday Monday. It will be dry and bright, although it will be a little bit chilly."
Sunny spells
The rain has not gone away, however. While it won’t be as heavy as in recent days, showers will spread from west to the east in the afternoon, although most parts of the east should stay dry until the evening. “This will be the pattern for most of the week – sunny spells and scattered showers, with Thursday probably being the best day of the week – a drier brighter day,” Mr Sherlock said.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Britain is bracing itself for very heavy rainfall, particular along the south of England and the east coast, but Ireland looks set to escape the worst of the wet weather with “not a bad weekend” in store, said Mr Sherlock.
Flooding in Dublin on Saturday resulted in the removal of two prisoners from Ballymun Garda station.
While most sports events went ahead as planned the GAA cancelled the All-Ireland Poc Fada finals due to be held in Co Louth on Saturday.
The annual tournament tests the skills of Ireland’s best hurlers and camogie players who must hit a sliotar over the 5km mountain course. The GAA said they would announce a date for the finals early next week .
