Met Eireann reports Ireland had above average sunshine in 2014

Met Eireann says 2014 was wet, warm and sunny across the country with hurricane force winds recorded early in the year.

A gust of 159 kilometres an hour was recorded at Shannon Airport in February - its highest since records began in 1945.

Nearly all weather stations had above average sunshine - the sunniest day of the year was on June 17 when 15.8 hours of sunshine were recorded at Belmullet in Co Mayo.

Durrow in Co Laois had the highest temperature of 2014 on July 25 when the mercury hit 28.8 degrees.

The coldest day of the year was December 29 in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, when temperatures fell to -6.9 degrees.