Mayo hotter than Milan – as thousands enjoy bank holiday sunshine in Mediterranean weather

Mediterranean-like weather left beach resorts, parks and beauty spots across Ireland packed over the June bank holiday weekend as Mayo proved warmer than Milan.

An estimated one million people savoured day-trips, mini-breaks and even early summer holidays as tourism officials said the sunshine had delivered an early season boom.

Hotels, restaurants and pubs reported busy trade – particularly in coastal areas – while councils increased refuse collections organised to ensure resorts remained in pristine condition.

Dublin and Cork were particularly busy thanks to Bloom, Forbidden Fruit and St Anne’s Park concerts, Cork City Marathon, Cork’s Ocean to City festival and the Cork-Kerry Munster Championship clash.

Met Éireann warned that the end of the Riviera-like spell is likely ahead – to the relief of farmers who, while savouring excellent silage and crop conditions until now, were increasingly worried at the lack of rainfall and the possibility of an early summer drought.

Uisce Éireann, formally Irish Water, said the introduction of a hosepipe ban was now unlikely despite overnight water restrictions in some areas in a bid to protect reservoir supplies.

Some areas have been subjected to overnight water restrictions, including Clonakilty, Co Cork, to allow local reservoirs to replenish.

Residents in areas of Mayo, Clare, Kilkenny, Westmeath and Wexford have also been asked to conserve water due to what Uisce Éireann described as “the current high demand for water as a result of the current warm spell”.

The plea came as the Azores High, which delivered two weeks of glorious sunshine, is to weaken – allowing more Atlantic weather streams over Ireland from later this week.

Met Éireann said next weekend is likely to prove more unsettled.

“While considerable uncertainty remains for the further outlook, the early indications are that the high pressure will start to wane as we approach the weekend, bringing more unsettled conditions with an increased chance of rain,” the forecaster said.

However, Ireland has at least another four days of dry, settled and largely sunny conditions – though western areas will at times prove up to be 5C warmer than the east.

“Monday will be generally dry and sunny once again, although cloud will build slightly during the afternoon and evening, with a further chance of isolated showers developing in Ulster. The highest temperatures will be 20C to 24C, again warmest in the west.

“Tuesday will be another mostly dry and sunny day with just light easterly breezes. Again, cloud will build slightly during the afternoon and evening, with isolated showers affecting northern parts. The highest temperatures will be 19C in the east to 24C in the west.

“Wednesday will stay dry and sunny for most areas, although isolated showers may develop once again in parts of the north. Highest temperatures of 17C to 23C.

Thursday will again prove to be a largely dry day, though clouds will build from the south-west and rain will impact parts of Munster from the late evening, heralding a change in outlook and with temperatures up to 4C cooler.