NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > An Irish heatwave is a little bit of heaven

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

An Irish heatwave is a little bit of heaven

Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 08:03 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

16 Comments

RSS

Archives

An Irish heatwave is like a Polar suntan. What is rare is wonderful as the Gaelic proverb says.

And it is occurring right now as I look at my window here at the Adare Manor hotel, a few miles from Limerick.

Adare's sweeping landscapes have never looked better. The flowers are in early summer bloom, a little stream dappled in the sunshine meanders through the property on its quiet way to the sea.

Today is perfection, It is 82 degrees, hot enough to trigger the rarely used air conditioning which the manager assures me is in fine fettle but hasn't been used for ages.

Last night we sat in a wonderful old country house and restaurant called the Mustard Seed, nestled in the Golden Vale, as this part of Ireland is known.

It was still bright at 10.p.m and the moon rose over an open sky and rolling hills. Not a cloud to be seen.

The talk over dinner is about the Icelandic volcano. The Irish tourism industry was making a nice comeback until the ash spewed into the air and flights from everywhere were canceled.

Now the mountain in Iceland is quiet and fingers are crossed that the gods will finally smile on this beleaguered country that has faced tough times this past two years.

Ireland like this is the most wonderful country in the world. My dinner companions tell me I brought the weather with me from America but truth be told this heat wave has gripped Ireland for the past three days or so.

It won't last of course.

The weatherman tonight is also predicting an early morning frost as the temperatures cool dramatically by the weekend.

But in the meantime it is nice to bask in this Shangri La and imagine what this little island would be like if weather like this prevailed year round.

A little bit of heaven I'd say

E-mail

16 Comments

See all comments

cgmommy | May 30, 2010, 09:17 AM EDT

We traveled to Ireland 3 summers ago and enjoyed such beautiful weather-it was warm and breezy. Wish we were there now to enjoy it!

Report abuse

JoeAnnie | May 28, 2010, 07:35 PM EDT

THis is wonderful for the Irish. I have been there when we had 2 full weeks of 80's The Ladies Beach at Ballybunion was packed.

Report abuse

jacersisityourself | May 28, 2010, 03:54 PM EDT

Bkm asks what Ireland would be like if we had this kind of weather more often. The answer is that the countryside wouldn’t be so green. When we do have prolonged sunshine and little rain (as last in summer of 1995) the grass is yellow everywhere. Not a shade of the forty shades of green to be seen!

Report abuse

bkmfmlongi | May 28, 2010, 01:18 PM EDT

agrre totally, i often wonder what ireland would be like with this type of weather more frequently, both great places to be adare manor and i have been to the mustard seed, fantastic place.

Report abuse

ladyjane | May 28, 2010, 09:13 AM EDT

Wish I was there!

Report abuse

galway2001 | May 26, 2010, 09:39 PM EDT

ireland and america are the best in the world

Report abuse

Maosurfer | May 26, 2010, 07:59 PM EDT

Ireland is Heaven!

Report abuse

peterson | May 26, 2010, 07:46 PM EDT

God Blessed Ireland and I hope his blessings continue !!

Report abuse

bonitapowers | May 26, 2010, 02:33 PM EDT

Ireland is always beautiful.

Report abuse

annhowell | May 26, 2010, 02:00 PM EDT

Two weeks today ago I was standing on the ould sod...spent the first two weeks of May all over the island. My first trip, and I hope not my last, but loved the cooler weather, which was more like our NC springtime. And those skies...lovely, lovely Ireland. Oh, to be standing there today!

Report abuse

Searlit | May 26, 2010, 12:47 PM EDT

Yes, it's due to global warming carrickcourt, but ya might as well be in the moment and enjoy the day!

Report abuse

carrickcourt | May 26, 2010, 09:10 AM EDT

A bit of an Irish heat wave Niall is enjoying. Frankly I think a bit of the global warming I would think. It will be 95 in Connecticut today a lovely global warming day.

Report abuse

tyfhtrtyurt | May 25, 2010, 04:21 PM EDT

Hello,everybody,the good shopping place,the new year approaching, click in. Let's facelift bar! ===== http://www.vipshopper.us === Air jordan(1-24)shoes $30 UGG BOOT $50 Nike shox(R4,NZ,OZ,TL1,TL2,TL3) $33 Handbags(Coach lv fendi d&g) $33 Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $16 Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30 2 Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini) $12 New era cap $9 Bikini (Ed hardy,polo) $18 FREE SHIPPING

Report abuse

jacersisityourself | May 25, 2010, 02:20 PM EDT

Yep, it’s brilliant, cloudless, sun-filled days at moment. I tell my US friends that one of the best times to visit Ireland is around the end of May because weather like this is more likely than not (the other good time is early Sep – it’s our Indian summer then). I booked a day off work yesterday (Mon) to work on a w/end home project but I decided this weather was inclement for the work - my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Report abuse

pat52rk | May 25, 2010, 01:28 PM EDT

if weather like this prevailed all year round we would have a completely different country, your view from adare manor would be quite different..

Report abuse