"Summertime, an' the livin' is easy. . ." The words of the classic Gershwin song must have murmured through many people's minds in recent weeks as the country simmered, day after day, in warm sunshine. Those who had chosen to stay in Ireland for their holidays could rejoice in their good judgment, having avoided the stresses of airport or ferry terminal - and hearing, perhaps, of friends or relatives sweltering uncomfortably in continental Europe, where temperatures around 40C have been widespread.
It was a blessed time to be on the beach, in the countryside or on the golf course, but less fortunate souls could still enjoy going to work in shirtsleeves or summer dresses, lunching at a pavement café or in the park, or strolling on the sunlit streets. Dining al fresco became a norm, and barbecues could be planned with little fear of being washed out. It was easy to see the sense of Henry James's remark that "summer afternoon" were the two most beautiful words in the English language.
But in these times, such weather inevitably brings two other words to mind: global warming. The term was heard often in conversation as people wondered if the heatwave was another sign that human activities had upset the balance of nature. Temperatures of over 30C, an extreme rarity in Ireland, were recorded in several places last week. Southern England experienced the highest July temperature since records began - 36.3C. The Netherlands' meteorological institute reported the hottest month ever recorded in the country. Across the European landmass, dried-up rivers, parched farmlands and bush fires - as well as scores of heat-related deaths - raised fears of a repeat of the devastating 2003 heatwave, which killed an estimated 30,000 people.
In themselves, of course, one or two hot summers prove nothing, but the three warmest years recorded globally have all occurred since 1998; and the retreat of mountain glaciers and Arctic ice are convincing the few remaining scientific sceptics that the world is overheating because of rising CO2 emissions from oil, gas and coal. Despite the scientific consensus, however, many political leaders - not least George Bush - remain in dangerous denial about the problem.
Effective action to mitigate the effects of climate change needs to become an urgent priority on the world's political agenda. In the meantime, as temperatures here in Ireland drop towards more accustomed levels and rain falls on thirsty fields, we can reflect that, whatever August may bring, we will enter autumn knowing we have had a summer to remember.