Met Éireann, the Irish meteorological service, confirmed that its observation station at Dublin Airport recorded zero sunshine between 8 and 18 February. The prolonged dull spell left many locals feeling drained, but as the sun reappeared, Dubliners flocked to the coast to bask in its warmth.

The meteorological service provided insights into Ireland's sunshine patterns, explaining that the country typically experiences between 1,100 and 1,600 hours of sunshine per year.

May and June are usually the sunniest months, with average daily sunshine ranging from five to 6.5 hours, while December is the dullest month, with only one to two hours.

Although the recent cloudy period matched the record from half a century ago, Ireland has seen even longer stretches without sunshine. The longest recorded span was 16 consecutive days, occurring twice: first in Belmullet, County Mayo, in 1956, and again at Cork Airport between December 2018 and January 2019.