As people head off to sunnier climates in their droves to try and get some sort of break with good weather, we took to the streets and asked the Wicklow public if they thought global warming and climate change is to blame for Ireland's wettest summer in years or is it all just Green' propaganda?

In Ireland we had more than 40 days in a row of rain, with many events throguhout Wicklow and the rest of the country called off because of damp conditions.

But, as ever, we live in hope, with many rumours circulating that September will see a mini-heatwave blanketing the country.

Meanwhile, southern European countries such as italy and Greece are sweltering in record breaking heat.

So, what on earth is going on with our weather?

Dan Whelehan of Wicklow town admitted he was no expert on the matter but still held a number of strong opinions.

Its a big debate at the moment all right. I wouldn't claim to know all the facts but it makes sense that global warming would play a big role in the weather we have been getting. The extremes in the weather conditions are exactly what experts predicted, not just in Ireland but all over the world. We have more rain, more intense heat, more storms and more intense bad weather. I don't think the greens are exaggerating. The world is where we live and we should all want to protect it.'

Ciaran Fagan is also pretty definite in his opinion on our poor summer.

Climate change and global warming is the reason, big time. The weather has just been crap this summer, without any real let up. I would defo say global warming was responsible. How else do you explain all the rainfall we have had this summer?'

Adam McGowan is another who firmly believes in the negative effect global warming seems to be having on weather conditions.

One day its hot and then the next it never stops raining. And you can get all sorts of weather in just one day. People should be more aware of what they are doing. We should carry out more recycling and stop causing so much pollution. I would agree with the green experts are saying.'

Opinion was mixed on the streets of Arklow as to whether our dire summer has been man-made, or the whim of Mother Nature.

Arklow man and local postal worker Mylie Carroll said wet summers were nothing new, especially in Ireland.

It's not global warming, it's all part of the normal (weather) cycle, I suppose.

The people who are supposed to know about it, they told us in March that we would have the warmest summer of all time!

But when you really look at it, there have only been about four good summers in the past 40 years.'

Donna Deegan, also from Arklow, was certain as to the cause of the poor weather and pointed the finger directly at polluters.

It has been the worst summer I can ever remember,' she said.

It is global warming, definitely.'

Speaking on yet another grey day on Arklow's main street, Cara Murphy of Arklow said she believed that humankind had been the main cause of the summer gloom across the country.

She put the cause down to the ozone layer'.

This summer has been a lot worse than normal,' she said. It's been terrible.'

You have to book a holiday abroad just to get some sun this year.'