SPRING IS expected to well and truly arrive this weekend after what feels like the longest winter in living memory. The temperature is likely to hit 18 degrees in parts of the west as temperatures reach unseasonal highs, a welcome respite from the cold and wet which has dominated since before Christmas.
The last four months have seen below-average temperatures and the start of April saw snow in places. This winter was the coldest since 1963 and March, which was supposed to herald the start of spring was the coldest in some places for 22 years.
The warm weather will be welcomed by everybody, but particularly by farmers. They have had a run of bad luck stretching back to last summer’s washout which was followed by flooding and then the cold spell which started just before Christmas with very little respite since then
As a result of the cold winter, grass growth is up to five weeks behind normal.
An IFA spokesman said the improved weather would provide a “psychological lift” for farmers after a difficult winter and it was timely given that fodder supplies were low after the extremes of flooding and frost.
Dairy farmers will hope to see grass growth in the next few weeks and an opportunity to catch up on milk production.
The dry weather should also see the last of crops such as spring barley and maize sown in the coming weeks.
The weekend will see the best of the settled weather which is likely to last for the next week.
“There will be plenty of sunshine this weekend with some clouds from time to time, but the majority of the time it will be sunny, although nights will be cool,” said Met Éireann forecaster Harm Luijkx.
“Growth will pick up for the next number of days even if gets a little bit colder from Tuesday, but there will be good sunny spells every day.”
The highest temperatures will be in the west. It will feel cooler along east and southeast coasts because of onshore breezes.
The forecast is for settled weather to remain into next week although temperatures will be lower than they are likely to be during the weekend, but they will still be up considerably on recent weeks.
For those wishing to make the most of the sunny weather by venturing outdoors, an orchid fair is taking place at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. Free guided tours of the orchid collections will be given at 2.30pm today and tomorrow.
Rugby is topping the list of sporting events with Munster playing Northampton Saints today in the Heineken Cup at Thomond Park. Kick off is at 5.30pm and motorists are advised diversions will be in place.
The Connemarathon will take place around Connemara tomorrow from 9am, while horse racing will take place at the Curragh, also tomorrow. The first race is at 2.15pm and the last race is at 5.15pm.
Members of the public are invited to participate in a Victorian waltz at the St Stephen's Green bandstand at 4pm to celebrate the republication of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dublin's One City, One Book choice.
The Blarney Music Festival is happening today and tomorrow and features free music in all the bars and in the village.
The Irish National Guitar Festival will run until tomorrow in Drogheda. There will be concerts, product clinics, master classes and performances from some of the world’s greatest guitarists.
Also tomorrow, members of the public are invited to experience Japan at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, Dublin, from noon until 4pm. The inaugural event will include taiko drum performances, martial arts demonstrations and origami workshops.
Xposé Live will take place at the RDS main hall today and tomorrow. Fashionistas can check out the latest trends on the fashion boulevard, receive tips at the beauty zone and chill out in the pampering zone.
On a similar theme, the Kerry Fashion Weekend will see a fashion awards luncheon and fashion shows taking place around Killarney over the next two days.
For those dreaming big this weekend, tonight’s Lotto jackpot is heading for €15 million.