"The current heatwave is over. The hot continental air mass that has been lingering over Ireland is gone but, that said, there will be some very pleasant weather this week that just will not be as hot, " Cusack said.

"Last week temperatures reached 250C and this week they will be more typically around 210C, " she added.

The highest temperature in the current warm spell was recorded at 25.80C last Thursday in Claremorris, Co Mayo. This was below the highest-ever June reading in Claremorris, when temperatures reached almost 300C.

The highest June temperature recorded in Ireland was 31.50C degrees in Kilkenny;

during the current heat wave, the temperature was 250C there.

Meanwhile, county councillors across the country have pledged new measures to improve standards at beaches after several wellknown places were given poor quality ratings. Five beaches were last week stripped of their blue flags, and Tramore beach in Co Waterford was refused the award. In all, 81 beaches and three marinas received or retained the European blue flag award for cleanliness, management and safety.

Waterford mayor Gerard Barron said people should still swim at Tramore beach, despite its having been refused a blue flag again. "I wouldn't be advising people not to swim there. I have no reason to believe that it's any way unsafe."

The beach was refused the quality award on the grounds that it was in close proximity to a now defunct landfill site, and that there was poor sewage treatment in the area.

Barron said measures are being taken to make it safe.

"The main problem is the lack of a proper sewage treatment plant, but that's well on its way, and expected to be up and running very shortly, " Barron said. He added that the council is investing 10m in the area and expected Tramore to be up to standard in "two to three years".

In Co Clare, the beaches at Mountshannon and Ballycuggeran had their blue flags removed. Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy said this "fierce disappointment" was due to algae in the water.

The beaches were closed for parts of last year due to algae alerts. "We intend to do everything we can, " McCarthy said. "We pride ourselves on our beaches in Clare."

Labour councillor Pascal Fitzgerald also voiced his disappointment. "I feel it's very sorry for Mountshannon to lose a flag, " he said, and promised "the county council will do everything in their power to get the flag back".

Westmeath lost blue flags at its most popular bathing spots, Lilliput on Lough Ennell and The Cut on Lough Leene. Local Fine Gael councillor Fintan Cooney, said it was "obviously a disappointment" and that the council is in bringing in by-laws to ban jet skis from the lakes and to prevent anti-social behaviour.

"Regulation is nearly impossible, " Cooney told the Sunday Tribune, "so this is an attempt to bring order and to control the shores and the lakes under our jurisdiction.

That'll be a start, then it's the old question of enforcement."

Killahoey beach in Co Donegal was stripped of its blue flag because of dumping problems in the area, although it seems this particular beach won't be much missed. Four Donegal county councillors contacted by the Sunday Tribune did not know where Killahoey beach was.