Irish police had to close roads such was the volume of traffic heading to the beach on Sunday – but the good weather is set to break.

The hottest summer heatwave in living memory is set to end on Tuesday when rain sweeps across Ireland from the Atlantic.

But those enjoying the endless sunshine made the most of it over the weekend when thousands took to beaches, forests and parks.

Police were forced to close two major roads according to state broadcaster RTE as a backlog of cars caused hour-long traffic jams heading to and from beaches and parks.

The Wicklow Gap/Glendalough Rd was closed for a time due to severe congestion along the route with many cars abandoned in the area.

The main Dublin to Wexford road was also closed southbound due to severe volumes of traffic heading to Brittas Bay.

An annual sheep racing festival in the Galway town of Oughterard had to be delayed until the evening to ensure the sheep weren’t fried.

And one car owner saw his vehicle threatened with submergence on Duncannon Beach when it became stuck in the sand.

Monday was set to sizzle again with high temperatures but a report in the Irish Independent warned that the weather is set to break with rain for much of the rest of the week.

Irish state weather service Met Eireann has warned of bad weather coming from the South West.
Forecaster Pat Clarke warned that rain will hit all of Ireland by Tuesday.

He said: “Ulster, Leinster and the midlands will still enjoy a dry day, with temperatures in the mid-teens on Monday. By Tuesday, however, we can expect rain everywhere, although it will be intermittent.

“It will be much more changeable and cooler, with breezes from the south and south west.”