'Sign of light at end of the tunnel' - but financial impact of difficult weather 'will remain'

"The financial cost of this is spiralling by the week."

According to Met Éireann, March this year was the wettest on record while the first two weeks of April have given farmers little respite, Mr Cullinan said.

There are signs of "light at the end of the tunnel" with the current weather forecast pointing to improvement soon - but the "financial impact" of recent conditions will remain. 

Irish Farmers' Association president Tim Cullinan said that the ongoing difficult weather conditions and incessant rainfall are having a massive effect on farmers across the country.