THE miserable Irish summer weather has driven people from the beaches to box office there, as the weekend box office take a couple of weeks back set a new record. The total take of ?2.4 million easily shattered the previous record of ?1.8m set in February 2006. And while the rain certainly helped improve takings, the caliber of movies on offer is also first class.

The Simpsons Movie notched receipts of more than ?1.2 million alone, more than half the total box office. Homer, Bart and company now own the title of highest grossing opening in Ireland since the launch of the euro in January of 2002.

"It is certainly the highest grossing weekend on record," said Carlton research manager Anna Fritz, who compiled the Irish figures.

"It is unprecedented in the multiplex era to have so many people going to the cinema," said Mark Batey, chief executive of the Film Distributors Association. "Cinemas like nothing better than downpours of rain."

Other hits on Irish screens are, of course, the new Harry Potter film and Transformers.