If you thought this has got to be the wettest July on record, think again. Met Eireann say rainfall has been pretty much average for this time of year - and they have the figures to prove it.
"People have very short memories when it comes to the weather", said a Met Eireann spokesman.
Despite ominous rumblings of thunder in the south-east, the first week of July was actually very dry and sunny throughout Ireland, he said. Temperatures were only slightly below normal.
In fact, up to a few days ago, only 1mm of rain had been recorded at Cork Airport. Of course, Corkonians have been paying for it ever since, with the rain "battering" the second city in recent days.
By yesterday, Cork had recorded a much more typical 40mm of rain in July so far, with 42mm in Shannon and 36mm in Belfast. Dublin collected only 20mm and Kilkenny a paltry 18. These figures are "perfectly normal", according to Met Eireann.
"Over the last few days we've had a lot, but overall for the first half of July it has been perfectly normal", the spokesman said.
The uneven distribution of rainfall throughout the month had led people to believe that July has been uncharacteristically wet, he claimed. "It's just the way it's coming with a bang. It's coming at us good and heavy."
Mr Cyril Kavanagh, a spokesman for Atlantic Storm Master Umbrellas in Bray, Co Wicklow, says that demand for umbrellas has soared from tour groups bringing foreign visitors here. However, there has been no great increase in demand for umbrellas from relentlessly optimistic natives.
A Dublin Tourism spokesman commented: "Thankfully, we never tell anyone to come here for the weather."
Today's weather will be brighter, but strong easterly winds will keep temperatures down and there will be isolated showers.
"There's no sign of a heatwave coming anytime soon", a Met Eireann spokesman said.
