It's getting hotter.. no drought about it

Country swelters in the sun as forecasters say it will get even warmer

- SEAN MURPHY

TEMPERATURES look set to go up again by the weekend and will rise again next week as the hot spell approaches an official heatwave.

Met Eireann also revealed that the entire country could be declared in a drought over the coming days with 26C forecast for Saturday.

Ireland sweltered in 25C yesterday with events like Bord Bia's Food and Family Festival in Phoenix Park, Dublin, taking place. Also happening was the midday bicycle Pride Ride along the Waterford greenway and the funfair in Moate, Co Westmeath.

High mercury readings will persist tomorrow when hundreds of music fans are set to pack St Anne's Park in Dublin to hear pop rockers The 1975.

A top temperature of 25.10 was recorded at Mount Dillon in Roscommon on Sunday.