Typical summer: Sun finally comes out as holidays end

Children may be forgiven for thinking their biggest lesson this school term is “how to cope with disappointment”, after the sun finally came to Ireland just as the summer holidays ended.

In an ironic weather wonder that seems to strike every September, the country is basking in temperatures approaching the mid-20s today after weekend scenes more fitting for France or Spain than Mullingar or Macroom.

After weeks of grey skies, wind and rain, the country’s Indian summer is set to continue until next weekend at least, with temperatures hovering around the 20C mark as a high pressure system takes hold.