Extremes of wet and dry in north and south

Opposite ends of Ireland last month recorded their driest and wettest January for several years, Met Éireann revealed today.

The weather station at Malin Head, the island’s most northerly point, saw its wettest start to the year for more than a decade.

At the other end of the country in Valentia, Co Kerry, it was the driest January since 2000.

Gales were recorded on many days throughout the month, with some damaging gusts, although temperatures were above normal.

Met Éireann said air temperatures at most of its weather stations were close to two degrees higher than is usual for January.

No temperature records were broken, following particularly mild starts to 2002 and 2005.