TEMPERATURES will remain high and skies will continue to be cloud free today, bringing cheer to sun bathers but discomfort to hay fever sufferers.
Conditions since the start of the week with much sun and little wind have been "optimum" for the distribution of grass pollen which sets sensitive noses sneezing according to the Astra Pharmaceuticals pollen forecast.
A spokeswoman predicted that pollen counts will remain high in rural areas and moderate in Dublin today.
"The very sunny conditions with no clouds and little wind will be causing problems like sneezing and streaming eyes" she said.
Met Eireann is forecasting little change in the weather today, with temperatures of 23 to 26 degrees Celsius inland and around 15 degrees in coastal areas.
A spokesman Mr Seamus Walsh, said tomorrow is likely to remain dry with temperatures as high as 25 or 26 degrees Celsius. An increase in cloud in northwest Connacht will bring a risk of coastal drizzle late in the day.
Temperatures are expected to drop at the weekend to the low 20s Celsius, as weak rain belts cross the country from the west.
The cause of the good weather, which has sent people flocking to the beaches, is a band of high pressure over the country which is slowly moving eastwards.
Temperatures were highest in the south and west yesterday, reaching a maximum of 26.4 at Shannon Airport in late afternoon.
In Claremorris. Kilkenny and Clones, temperatures reached 24 degrees Celsius. In Dublin they peaked at around 22 in the early afternoon.
Sea breezes in coastal areas kept temperatures at around 15 degrees Celsius.
South Munster enjoyed cloud free skies for most of the day.