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Irish students struggle as New York temperature soars

Triple digit temperatures and scorching humidity taking its toll

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New York is in the middle of a heatwave that is making life hot in the city.

What was supposed to be the summer of a lifetime has instead turned hot and unbearably sticky, as Irish students in New York are battling with soaring temperatures and are not enjoying their time away from home.

In an effort of keep cool during scorching temperatures, Irish students in New York for the three months of the summer are doing everything in their power to stay cool.

Eoin O’Connor from Co. Carlow works as a doorman in the city, and although he “is lucky” to be indoors he is required to wear pants, a shirt and work shoes which makes getting to and from work “very uncomfortable.”

O’Connor, 21, came to New York to enjoy the city but to date has not really done much sight seeing due to scorching summer temperatures.

“I try to go for a walk in New York early in the morning when the temperatures are cool, and then in the evening to cool off I’ll go to a bar to watch the World Cup, but I haven’t really done much sightseeing because of the heat,” O’Connor told the Irish Voice on Tuesday.

O’Connor said the worst part of the high temperatures that have reached 100-plus in Manhattan, is the “lack of fresh air.”

“It’s so humid and I hate getting sunburned, so I try to stay out of it as much as possible,” he said.

Like O’Connor, Sophie Corbett from Co. Roscommon came to New York to enjoy “all it has to offer.”

To date she spends her free time indoors getting away from the sun.
“I’m fair skinned and get burned super easily, so when I’m not working I stay inside my basement with the fans to keep cool,” said Corbett, sounding disappointed.

“I’ve been to Spain and Portugal where the weather has been extremely hot, but I’ve always managed because I think there was always a breeze, but in New York it’s constant humidity with temperatures way up in the 90s,” said Corbett, grumbling that Tuesday temperatures were in the 100s.

Corbett, who works as a nanny for an Italian family in the city, spends her days off watching movies and reading books.

“Little did I think I would be coming to New York to stay indoors,” she said.

“I don’t go out – unless I have to – before 9 p.m., then I allow myself to go for a few cold ones,” she laughs.

As for minding the children in a heat wave, Corbett describes it as “a nightmare.”

“The kids’ parents want me to take them to the park as much as I can, and of course I have to so I smother myself in factor 50 sun cream and I still get brunt,” she adds.  “It’s just horrible.”

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