Glorious sunny spell to end on Tuesday, unsettled weather ahead

The glorious weather of the last week is set to end on Tuesday as more unsettled conditions prevail.

It will still be warm in the east and midland areas with temperatures of up to 20 degrees but it will be notably cooler in other areas than of late. There is also the prospect of heavy bursts of rain.

Most of the country enjoyed warm sunny weather for the past week as a high pressure area settled over the country.

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People enjoy the good weather in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. Photograph: Collins

Temperatures reached a peak of 23 degrees at Valentia Observatory in Kerry on Friday. Many parts of the south-west saw temperatures exceed 20 degrees.

Met Éireann forecaster Harm Luijkx said in some places temperatures were cooler than the level of sunshine would suggest.

Temperatures in the mid-teens were recorded in most parts of Ireland over the weekend but the unbroken blue skies made appear as if it was much warmer, he said.

The rest of the week will see a return to more normal conditions with a succession of rain belts bringing a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers.

Wednesday and Thursday will be cool, bright, fresh days with showers. On Friday, a band of heavier rain will spread eastwards to all areas. It will clear on Friday night.

More of the same is expected on Saturday and Sunday. The weather will continue unsettled into the early days of next week.

The fact that it has been extremely dry has discommoded the makers of the latest Star Wars movie, according to locals in Co Donegal.

The film makers have been shooting episode eight of the blockbuster franchise on Malin Head over the last week.

Unfortunately, the absence of rain in one of the wettest parts of Ireland forced them to recreate it artificially.

Hugh Farren from Farren's Bar in Malin's Head said: "There were water trucks all week coming out from the pier. I don't know where the water came from. We were told they needed it for rain."

Mr Farren was delighted when Mark Hamill, of the stars of the franchise, visited the bar.

“We have a mural of Yoda on the side of the wall of the bar. He came in to take a photograph. I was totally star struck,” he said.