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Mark Stedman
there is a light that shines

Lights out: Knock was the darkest place in Ireland last year

Met Éireann released its annual weather report today.

KNOCK HAS BEEN revealed as the darkest place in Ireland receiving just three hours of sunlight every day on average.

According to a report from Met Éireann released today, sunshine totals were lowest at Knock Airport in Mayo with an annual total of 1099.6 hours, meaning there was an average of just three hours of sunlight per day. The highest was found at Dublin Airport with those in the capital experiencing nearly four hours of direct sunlight every day.

The sunniest day for 2016 was reported on 2 June at Malin Head, Donegal with 15.8 hours.

The report showed how 2016 was the 17th warmest year since 1900 and defied the average weather systems with which we have become accustomed to here.

The highest temperature was recorded in mid-July as the Mount Dillon weather station in Roscommon reported a measurement of 30.4°C on 19 July. The lowest was at the end of both February and November with the air temperature at Markree, Sligo on 25 November registering a -7.3°C.

Ireland also experienced drier than usual weather with rainfall totals lower than average nationwide.

But 2016 wasn’t without its wilder weather. Storm Imogen, which struck the nation last February, brought the highest winds the year would see. The year’s highest gust and the highest 10-minute average wind speed were recorded at Sherkin Island, Cork during Storm Imogen, notching up a speed of 135 km/h.

The wettest day was reported in the southwest on 3 October as 105.5mm fell at Valentia Observatory in Kerry, its wettest day since the station opened in 1866.

Read: Non-league footballer’s contract terminated after social media abuse of Ireland’s Harry Arter >

Read: ‘I want to get cancer’: the new campaign that aims to shock you >

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