April was the sunniest and the warmest on record across much of the country, with temperatures were on average 3 degrees above normal for the time of year.
The warmest temperatures were experienced on the western seaboard. Both Valentia Station in Co Kerry - 2.8 degrees above normal - and Malin Head -3.1 degrees above normal - had the warmest April in more than 100 years.
Shannon Airport, with a mean temperature of 3.2 degrees above normal, had the warmest April since records began there in 1945. The mean temperature was 12 degrees.
The station also recorded the highest temperature of the month, 22.7 degrees on April 21st.
Belmullet in Co Mayo had the sunniest April day on record last Friday, April 29th, when 14.1 hours were recorded. Everywhere across the country had a sunnier than normal April.
Rainfall levels were below normal except in Belmullet (133 per cent above), Claremorris (146 per cent above) and Malin Head (115 per cent), but nearly all that rain was experienced in the first week of April.
A total of 26.5mms, or over an inch, fell in Claremorris on April 1st.
The station at Oak Park in Carlow only recorded 20mms of rain for the whole month, just 41 per cent of normal.
The forecast is for more normal showery conditions to return later in the week. It will be cloudier than of late and rain will be experienced in Connacht and Munster during the day tomorrow.
The forecast for tomorrow night and Thursday morning is for rain to spread countrywide.
Thursday will stay mostly cloudy and Friday will also see sporadic showers.
Saturday will be mild and showery and rain will spread to all areas on Saturday night and continue for most of Sunday.
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