A very Irish summer.

Time flies when you’re trapped in a pandemic, so it’s hard to believe that we’re already in the depths of summer. Hopefully, the sunshine of this week will make it all feel a bit more real, though in true Irish fashion, the sun will be interrupted by the occasional shower.

The Met Éireann forecast for Munster reads: “Monday will be a dry and bright day with spells of hazy sunshine. Fresher than recent days with maximum temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees, highest in the southeast, with a light to moderate west to northwest breeze.”

Tuesday will have a hint of rain, but with temperatures that remain favourable to outlandish attire – such as shorts, and t-shirts. Met Éireann say: “Starting dry in all areas with some bright spells, but thickening cloud will bring rain and drizzle to western counties by early afternoon.

“Light rain gradually edging eastwards to all areas Tuesday evening, but becoming patchy as it does so. A humid day with highs of 16 degrees in the west to 19 degrees in the east, in moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong on coasts.”

The remainder of the week will see both sunny spells and cloudy spells each day, with temperatures going from between 14 degrees to 20 degrees.

But, as is so often the case, the real losers are those who suffer from hayfever — as the pollen count for both Monday and Tuesday is categorised as ‘High.’ Similarly, the Solar UV index is ‘Very High’ — so stay in the shade if you can, and remember to lash on the Factor 50.