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Sunny days are on their way after one of the coldest and dullest Aprils for decades, forecasters have said.

Temperatures are expected to hit as high as 22C (71.6F) next week in a mini "Irish heatwave" that will finally shake off the miserable spring.

Over the coming days, the mercury will inch up a degree or so every day.

The best days are expected to be next Monday and Tuesday before conditions settle into proper late spring warmth, said John Eagleton of Met Eireann.

Time to head for the beach:

Ireland will be hotter than Ibiza on both Monday and Tuesday.

"It is gradually going to get warmer over the next few days," he said.

"The charts are showing us it will reach 21C (69.8F) and 22C (71.6F).

"It may not be as high in Dublin because the winds will be easterly, but certainly in the midlands and the west of the country, that is what we are forecasting."

(Image: Collins Photo Agency)

(Image: Collins Photo AGency)

As Britain gears up for Mediterranean temperatures this weekend, the forecaster said Ireland will "get some of what they are getting" across the water.

"Maybe we are getting an Irish heatwave," he joked. "The Italians would laugh at it, but we'll take whatever we can get."

He added: "It has been a late spring, but that is not unknown. This will make up for it now - there will be a real burst of growth."

The brighter, warmer weather will delight sun-seekers and gardeners forced to take cover indoors over recent weeks.

(Image: Adam Gerrard)

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Official figures just released by Met Eireann confirm parts of the country suffered their coldest and dullest April for decades.

Air temperatures sank as low as minus 3C (26.6F) in Sligo last month.

(Image: Collins Photo Agency)

Dublin wrapped up against its coldest April in 27 years - with ground frost recorded in the capital on 23 days of the month.

The city also endured its dullest April since 1998, according to records from the weather station at Casement Aerodrome.

The cold snap that gripped Ireland for the last few weeks may be on the way out - but not before it caused some havoc, with some areas of the country seeing the coldest April in almost 30 years.

Met Eireann weather chiefs explained that the mean temperatures for April were below the long term average, with differences ranging from a -0.8C change in Co Cork to a -2C change in Co Sligo.

The lowest average temperatures were recorded at Markree, Co Sligo and Dublin Airport, at 6.4C and 6.3C respectively.

The capital's airport reported the second biggest deviation from the long term average with -1.9C, making it the coldest April since 1986.

Irish parks will be thronged:

Other stations in Dublin reported the coolest April conditions in almost 30 years.

Phoenix Park and Casement Aerodrome both recorded temperatures between 1C and 1.5C below the long term average, making it the coldest April for the stations in 16 and 27 years respectively.

The highest levels of sunshine for the month were reported at Shannon Airport, which had 181.3 hours, while Cork Airport was hit with the highest level of dull days with six.

Average wind speeds for the month ranged from 11.7 km/h at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan and Mullingar, Co Westmeath to 28.2 km/h in Malin Head, Co Donegal.

The country was battered by gale force winds on seven days throughout the month, with the highest 10-minute average wind speed and the highest gust being recorded at Mace Head on April 6 - at 70 km/h and 96 km/h respectively.