Heavy rain and strong winds compounded the January blues with parts of the country recording their wettest start to the new year for up to 20 years, Met Éireann revealed today.
While temperatures were higher than normal, rainfall totals were up almost all over the country.
Between 16 and 25 wet days were recorded during the month causing serious flooding in parts of the south and west, while Shannon airport's total of 221mm was its highest since 1945.
Adding to the doom and gloom, sunshine levels were below normal - except in the south - with some parts of the country recording their dullest January for up to 12 years.
But despite the bleak start to 2008, temperatures were higher than normal, with the average one and two degrees warmer than previous years.
Met Eireann's monthly weather review revealed the first half of the month was dominated by daily bouts of rain. Around 200mm fell in parts of Munster and Connacht, causing significant river flooding.
Forecasters said the highest temperature was recorded at Dublin airport on January 23rd with an unseasonal 14.3 degrees, while the lowest was at Claremorris, Co Mayo, on January 4 at -6.1 degrees.
Valentia observatory recorded its wettest January since 1974 at 274 mm.
Levels of sunshine were greatest in the south-east, with Rosslare recording 64.1 hours compared with just 25.8 at Malin Head - its dullest January in 11 years.