There is ‘a lot of uncertainty’ surrounding the weather in the run-up to Easter — but early indications suggest that things aren’t looking good.
The country has, unfortunately, remained in the midst of cold Spring weather — and, coupled with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the price of heating up the house has skyrocketed.
While we’re all waiting for Spring to finally, well, spring with a spell of good weather, Met Éireann has indicated that there are no real details surrounding the weather leading into next weekend.
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However, Carlow meteorologist Alan O’Reilly has painted a bit more of a grim picture, stressing that while it’s early days yet, it’s probably going to be a fair bit colder in the next week.
‘Still a lot of uncertainty around Easter weekend with a risk of wind and rain Saturday,’ Alan wrote on Twitter (X). ‘No sign of any real heat with cooler air more likely, bad news for all those home heating oil users with no real reduction in cost.’
Looking to the weather for the next few days, Met Éireann has said that Saturday will be a bright one, with sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent over the northern half of the country. Some of the showers will be heavy or thundery, but becoming increasingly isolated as the day continues. Highest temperatures of 7C to 10C.
Saturday night will be largely dry and clear at first, with just isolated showers. Cloud will then build from the west, with outbreaks of rain following into the northwest towards morning. Lowest temperatures of just 2C to 6C.
While we’ll be getting a grand stretch in the evening on Sunday, it’ll be wet and breezy to kick off proceedings, spreading southeast towards morning. The rain will be heavy at times, especially in the northwest, with some flooding possible. Sunny and dry spells will follow, with highest temperatures of 9C to 13C.
Sunday night will start off largely dry and clear, with isolated northerly showers before cloud spreads from the west. Lowest temperatures of 6C to 9C.
Kicking off holy week, Monday will be mild but becoming quite dull as clouds extend across the country, with patchy and light drizzle on the way. Highest temperatures of 9C to 13-14C.
Monday night will continue cloudy, with patchy light rain, drizzle and mist. Temperatures won’t fall too sharply, however, with lows of 7C to 10C.
Tuesday will be another mild and generally cloudy day with patchy rain and drizzle, but some brighter spells will break through at times too. Highest temperatures of 11C to 14C.
Wednesday will see things take a turn for the worse, as it’s likely to be wetter than previous days as outbreaks of rain move in from the northwest. Highest temperatures of 10C to 13C.
For the rest of the week, things are uncertain details-wise — although Met Éireann has warned that conditions are likely to continue mixed with rain at times broken up by dry intervals.
More flags appear in area where Belfast Council contractors removed them previously.
Flags had been removed in line with new Council policy.
Flags erected around Ballymacarrett playground in east Belfast, including one with a ‘stop the boats’ message.
By John Breslin
March 29, 2026 at 4:27pm BST
More flags have appeared in the area around an east Belfast playground where City Council contractors had removed previous banners.
Belfast City Council used the contractors to remove the Union and other flags from the park in the Ballymacarrett area of the city recently. However they were quickly replaced and threatening graffiti appeared.
It now appears a yet more flags have appeared, with two or three on some lampposts.
The graffiti on a wall close to the Severn Street park had warned ‘Anyone who touches these flags does so at their own risk’.
The flags now on the poles include ones that are religious-themed but also with a ‘stop the boats’ message.
Following the previous removal of the flags, the council confirmed outside contractors were used.
Their removal followed a meeting in December when it was decided to carry out an “audit” of flags and banners in line with a “commitment to creating a good and harmonious environment”.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in east Belfast, a UVF mural at the corner of Dee Street and Newtownards Road has been removed with the reported approval of loyalists in the area.
The mural, on the gable wall since 2011, featured two hooded gunmen. It was be replaced by one of Edward Carson, the early 20th century unionist leader.
Where did the phrase “Forty Shades of Green” for Ireland come from?
You might be surprised to hear that it was singer Johnny Cash that made the phrase “Forty Shades of Green” popular with a song that he was inspired to write after a trip to Ireland.
An aerial view of fields in Co Tipperary – how many shades of green can you count?! Getty
Describing the beautiful Irish landscape as “Forty Shades of Green” is used the world over, but how did the phrase become so popular?
You might be surprised to hear that it was country singer Johnny Cash who popularized the phrase “Forty Shades of Green” with a song of the same name, which appeared on his 1961 album “Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash”.
Cash was inspired to write the song during a trip to Ireland in 1959, and while he lists a number of popular destinations in Ireland – Dublin, Shannon, Dingle, Skibbereen – local legend has it that he got the initial inspiration in the Kockmealdown Mountains in Co. Tipperary.
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Listen to “Forty Shades of Green” by Johnny Cash:
Lyrics of “Forty Shades of Green” – Johnny Cash, 1959
I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea
from the fishin boats at Dingle to the shores at Donaghdee
I miss the River Shannon and the folks at Skibbereen the moorlands and meadows and their Forty Shades of Green But most of all I miss a girl in Tipperary town and most of all I miss her lips as soft as eiderdown I long again to see and do the things we’ve done and seen where the breeze is sweet as shalimar and there’s Forty Shades of Green I wish that I could spend an hour at Dublin´s churning suft I long to watch the farmers drain the bogs and spade the turf to see again the thatching of the straw the women clean I´d walk from Cork to Larne to see those Forty Shades of Green But most of all I miss a girl in Tipperary town and most of all I miss her lips as soft as eiderdown I long again to see and do the things we´ve done and seen where the breeze is sweet as shalimar and there´s Forty Shades of Green
I am told that there has been a significant increase in the number of Newsletter subscribers. For new readers, you are very welcome, and to long-term supporters, thank you.
Let me start from the beginning, “a Chairde” is the Irish Gaelic way to address a letter, and it simply means “friends”.
So, friends welcome, and let me introduce myself. I am Sinn Féin’s representative to North America. Sinn Féin is the largest party across all of Ireland. We are an Irish Republican Party dedicated to building a united Ireland and a republic declared during the Easter Rising of 1916.
The party was established in 1905, and the name Sinn Féin translates roughly as “Ourselves Alone”. The name reflects the aspiration for an independent Ireland rather than an isolationist approach, as we work with others nationally and internationally to build Irish Unity.
Sinn Féin is the largest party and is in government in the North of Ireland, where our Vice President, Michelle O’Neill, is the First Minister. In Dublin, we are the largest party of opposition, and our party President, Mary Lou McDonald, is the leader of the official opposition in the Dáil.
My position is unique in Irish politics; there is no other party that works closely with supporters in the US and Canada on a day-to-day basis. I report to our party president.
Before taking on this role, I worked with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in various roles, including Sinn Féin Director of Communications. I grew up in Belfast in the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s and now work out of an office in Dublin when I am not in the air or on the ground in the US or Canada.
I took over this role in 2020 from the late, great and sorely missed Rita O’Hare. This unique role reflects both the strategic importance of the US and Canada to the cause of Irish Freedom and our view that the Irish abroad are very much a part of our nation.
North America has shaped Ireland as much as the Irish have built America and Canada. Every revolutionary period in Irish history relied on the support of our “exiled Children”. There would be no Easter Rising or Good Friday Agreement without you.
We are now at a point in our History where Irish Unity is within this generation’s grasp.
The Good Friday Agreement provides a peaceful and democratic pathway to Unity through referendums in the North and the South.
For supporters of Irish Unity, our shared objective is to secure and win the referendums as promised in the Agreement, despite British and Irish Government indifference.
Together, we can fully implement the Agreement and allow the people of Ireland to define their future.
Your first step in playing a part in delivering a United Ireland is in signing up to this newsletter and becoming informed and active.
Let me know if there are any issues you would like me to write about and keep informed by following Friends of Sinn Féin on their socials.
Have a great weekend.
Is mise,
Ciarán
Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America
Pic of Day: Bronx Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz (third from left holding banner) with Bronx AOH Members Denis Boyle, Martin Galvin, Timmy O’Donoghue and Thomas O’Donohue who carried the “England get out of Ireland” banner in the Yonker’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade last weekend. Also pictured are two unidentified members of the Assemblyman’s staff.
