IF YOU THOUGHT the weather this summer wasn’t as good as in the last few years, you’re right. Summer 2011 was on average between 0.5 and 1°C colder, according to recordings taken around the state.

Shannon Airport recorded its coolest summer since 1962, while Valentia Observatory had its coldest summer in 39 years.

The ‘hottest’ days of summer were mostly recorded in the early days of June, before it warmed up a bit again in late July. The highest temperature recorded anywhere in Ireland in the past three months was 25.5°C at Carlow’s Oak Park on 3 June.

However, most of the summer’s lowest temperatures were also recorded in early June, when ground frost was recorded at a number of midland and eastern stations. Casement Aerodrome recorded its lowest grass temperature since 1946, with -2.5°C.

Although cooler than our average summers, the last three months were also drier than in previous years. June had the heaviest rainfall, but the first half of August was also a rainy period. Most stations said it was their driest summer for five years, although 304mm of rain fell on Knock Airport over the season. The highest number of wet days were recorded along the Atlantic coast.

The sunniest places to be this summer were Dublin Airport and Belmullet in Co Mayo – both recorded over 480 hours of sunshine. Knock Airport drew the short straw here too, with just 331 hours of sunshine – its lowest level since records began in 1996.

Read: Summer, it’s literally not what it used to be >