The best September in 16 years has prevented a crisis for grain farmers and lifted the spirits of tourists.
September was drier, warmer and sunnier than normal in most places, according to Mr Peter Lennon of Met Éireann.
Regions such as Dublin, Rosslare and Shannon enjoyed a fraction of their normal rainfall while the highest level of rainfall was still 5 per cent less than normal.
On average, there were only between two and nine wet days in September.
Belmullet in Mayo recorded 158 per cent more sunshine than normal in September, while Valentia in Kerry recorded 151 per cent more sunshine.
The harvest was very disappointing, but would have been disastrous without the good weather in September, according to Mr Fintan Conway, secretary of the IFA grain committee.
"It was fantastic weather, so at least people were able to save the harvest, whatever about the yields," he said.
The continuous rain and lack of sun over the summer months meant that yields were back significantly this year. Winter wheat yields were back by 16 per cent while spring wheat yields fell by 12 per cent.
Spring barley yields were back by 27 per cent, Mr Conway said.
If the good weather had not come, the situation would have been even worse for cereal farmers because the moisture content of the crops would have been so high.
Grain prices are down 20 to 25 per cent this year, with farmers blaming cheaper imports from eastern Europe.
The bad weather and falling harvest prices are now having an effect on confidence, Mr Conway said, with farmers reluctant to make a commitment to rent land for next year.
The good weather of the past month has given tourists something to smile about but there are no indications that it led to an influx of tourists, according to industry sources.
Tourists are booking later and later, but by this September, most tourism operators had conceded that their season was nearly over.
In any event, tourists do not come here mainly for the weather, according to the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation economic report which was leaked last week.
It examined the 2000 Bord Fáilte visitor attitude survey which highlighted the scenery, the people and the "memorable experience" as the country's top characteristics.
On Westmoreland Street in Dublin yesterday, Ms Kit Amussen from Virginia in the United States said she had enjoyed two weeks of good weather, up until Monday.
"But I don't mind. You expect rain in Ireland. That's why it's so green," she said.
Walking around Trinity College, Ms Maria Alvarez from Spain said she had found the weather "nice, but not as hot as Barcelona. But we did not make the visit for the sun," she said. "We came because we heard about the nice Irish people and how they enjoy the pubs and the music."
