The change of month next week marks the official start of summer - but don't expect summer weather.

You might remember that last May brought a heatwave and that the country basked in sunshine for much of the month. As this May begins, however, it doesn't look like we're in for much sun. Instead, Met Éireann says we can expect a continuation of the rain and cool temperatures we've been having. "Current indications suggest a cool, breezy day for Tuesday, the first of May," the national forecaster predicts. "Dry in eastern areas for a time, but rain will spread from Atlantic coastal counties gradually, with rain in all areas for a time, giving some heavy falls of rain locally. "Top temperatures just 9C to 11C. But this rain should clear eastwards later in the day or overnight and frost is unlikely. "Wednesday looks like being a cool, showery and rather breezy day, but occasional sunny spells too, while it should become less showery for Thursday." This weekend's weather is a fairly mixed bag, meanwhile - there'll be sunny spells for much of the afternoon, though heavy showers are forecast for Munster and Ulster, where there are chances of hail thunder. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. We can expect a cold and dry start to tomorrow with scattered showers becoming heavier and more widespread during the afternoon.