Met Eireann pinpoints where the warmest area of Ireland will be as temperatures to top 26C on Thursday

If you want to head to the warmest part of Ireland this Thursday, you should follow the advice of the Pet Shop Boys - and go west.

The country has seen foggy mornings but warm evenings in the last few days,

It's led to people packing up for a beach day, or a family cycle and it's been great to see a bit of a buzz around the country again.

Well, that buzz will continue on Thursday, with a dry day in store according to Met Eireann experts.

They say: "Today will be another warm and dry day with spells of sunshine developing once any early morning mist and fog clears. It will be cloudier with mist and fog at times along the coastline through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 20 to 26 degrees, warmest away from east and north-facing coasts, in light northeasterly or variable breezes."

And the western half of the country is set to benefit, with residents of Clare to enjoy the best weather as temperatures max out at 26C.

A group of revellers reflected in a woman's sunglasses as crowds arrive for the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois, in 2017. (PA Archive/PA Images)

It's not like it won't be toasty around the rest of the country, with the likes of Dublin and Cork settling with 21C and 20C respectively.

And that good weather will last over the weekend - and even into next week.

Friday

"Friday will be dry and mostly sunny once any early morning mist and fog clears. Temperatures will generally reach 19 to 23 degrees but a light easterly breeze will keep maximum temperatures around 17 or 18 degrees in the east and southeast."

Saturday

"Another dry day with long spells of sunshine, hazy at times in the north and east. Highest temperatures of 20 to 23 degrees generally, but a few degrees cooler along eastern and northern coasts due to a light east to northeast or variable breeze. It will stay dry on Saturday night and most areas will have clear spells but it will become cloudier in northern areas. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees."

Sunday

"Sunday will be a cloudier day but will stay dry. Maximum temperatures will range between 17 degrees in the north to 23 degrees in the south, where the best of the sunshine will be, and there will be light northerly breezes. Sunday night will be dry with clear spells but again some patchy mist and fog will form. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees."

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