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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Give me Irish weather any time over heatwave America - Cool and wet beats hot and humid anytime in my books

Posted on Saturday, July 07, 2012 at 08:21 AM

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By some measures it is the wettest summer in Ireland since 1909 and real records began.

I wish I was there.

I spoke to my brother in Drogheda, County Louth, thirty miles north of Dublin on Friday night.

“Three months worth of rain fell in a week “ he told me in that Irish way that mixes resignation with a perverse pride in being able to endure it.

Of course I just got back from there and know somewhat of what he is talking about.

But I’d still prefer it there to the weather here at the moment.

There is something about my Irish skin that overheats like an expanding boiler when the temperatures move north of about 80 degrees.

Here in the Northeast we have had as high as 97 and 98 degrees in this past week.

Personally it is insufferable. Give me wet and rainy Ireland anytime, and a grey dawn breaking no matter how depressing it seems.

Sun burns me up, mosquitoes tee off to attack that nice white Irish skin they treat like a caviar feast. I feel irritable and miserable and like a snapping turtle when people annoy me.

Give me Ireland. The days I was there it was not constant rain, the really depressing kind. It was rain sunshine, rain, sunshine. It stayed bright until 11 o’clock dear reader.

I felt right at home.

The Irish Times forecast for four days in advance was hilarious. Everyday was Groundhog Day. It was early morning fog followed by rain, followed by patches of sun followed by rain again. If this was a movie Ireland was on its tenth sequel by this point in its summer.

Actually, the best place I ever lived was San Francisco where I parked myself in the fog-shrouded Sunset district for about six years. The cool all enveloping fog, keeping temperatures in the mid fifties to sixty was invigorating,

If I wanted sun -- which I didn’t -- I only had to drive a few miles.
In winter if I wanted snow I only had to drive to Tahoe on the Nevada border. Of course, I ended up unhappy there --- too perfect for an Irish Catholic boy.

So I took myself off to New York, land of white hot summers and deep freeze winters.

Every year I ask the same question --- what did people do before air conditioning especially on humid high summer days like now?

I don’t know but they were better men and women than me to survive it.

Which is why I want the grey mist and the sky and the wind’s whip, and an invigorating walk on a beach, not this soulless, humid, huff and puff, helter swelter summer we have here.

Irish weather? -- perfect for me.

Bring it on.

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TisEyerish | Jul 07, 2012, 03:01 PM EDT

I agree...I'd rather have the cooler temps and rain than the 100 degrees we experience here. Besides, everything is better when you're in Ireland and the weather doesn't put a damper on your fun! @Helen Ferone...just to be on the safe side, let me know the next time you are going...I'll book the same timeframe, LOL.

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Helen Ferone | Jul 07, 2012, 02:22 PM EDT

I've been to beautiful Ireland many times, and have always gone in Nov. when the weather is supposed to be "bad", but I never had a problem. I even went in Jan. the year of their bad winter several yeara ago, and had a beautiful week, (the only one they had in Jan) so I guess I've been really lucky, and I hope my luck continues.l

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joan1954 | Jul 07, 2012, 02:03 PM EDT

I have had great fun reading all these comments. I live in an area that has heat, which by the way was cooler than NYC which has its concrete jungle, and it was mild because the heat was dry. We are anticipating rain all next week and we need it because of the drought. You can't beat our winters with no snow and mild weather. I like Irish weather but would love for it to pass on the rain from time to time.

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dinodbl | Jul 07, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

This an abnormal heat wave that occurs only every 65 years or so in the Chicago area. As a former lifeguard I remember alot of downright cool and wet summers. As for the south, when I traveled there on business, I would arrange my plans to visit only up to May and get back up north.Ireland is but a speck of land whereas AMERICA has many climates and areas that are enjoyable year round. The media plays up this wierd weather pattern for ratings. Those unfortunate to be in the midddle of it unfortunately have truly suffered and I wish them relief with cool,rain and the saving of their crops and homes.

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MegK311 | Jul 07, 2012, 01:41 PM EDT

I grew up in N.I. and the weather didn't bother me as a young person. However now that I am much older I find it cold when I visit there in the summer. I live in N. California and it does get hot in the summer but it is a dry heat and I am so glad we don't have the humidity. California has dry heat because there is a current of cold water which flows from Alasks down along the California coast. A trip to Ireland is worth the rain and colder weather and anyway I go because I enjoy getting together with family and friends.

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EphraimKibbey | Jul 07, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT

Cincinnati's normal is mid 80's (F) but in honor of the World Choir Games we had 104 yesterday (with HUMIDITY) breaking a record from the 1870's. We are scheduled for 105 today and the third broken record in a row. The highest temperature ever recorded here was 108 so we aren't that far away. Lots of cities HAVE broken all time records here in the midwest. We were VERY lucky only to have been without power for an hour and one half as there are many still without power from the "once in a century" storms of Thursday/Friday before last. Let me see if I have this right - burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases, greenhouse gases cause higher temperatures, higher temperatures mean running the air conditioners more, running the air conditioners more means the need to burn more fossil fuels. Oh, Oh!

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judiron | Jul 07, 2012, 12:31 PM EDT

I agree, Ireland is better, but don'[t forget the smokey mountains, our weather is beautiful.

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bear022013 | Jul 07, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT

I love Eire but thee weather is not for those who like the sunshine.

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irishcoffeekid | Jul 07, 2012, 12:02 PM EDT

Sorry folks but i just can't agree with you on that! I was home for 3 weeks to take care of my sister after surgery - it was 32C when i left DC and it was 13C when i got to Ireland! I was frozen!!! The whole time i was there it was no more than 16C and wet, windy and more like November!! I love home but i hate the weather. When i got back to DC on sunday it was 102F and I was in heaven - its been hot, sweltering and dead heat since i got back and I love every minute of it!! If Ireland could just get a decent summer, it would be fantastic but I wont give up this blistering heat for anything - beats cold miserable depressing weather where you cant even let the kids out without gearing them up for the weather. DC Rocks - i'm loving it!!!

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RD | Jul 07, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT

Wuss. Give me a break. It's the first heat wave of the year. My dermatologist once told me my ancestors should never have left the mists of Ireland but with an SPF of about 1000, you can survive this. Go to the mall, take in a movie, check out the beach. I'm afraid it's too late for me to appreciate Irish weather. The frequent cloud cover and chilly temperatures would drive me crazy. Give me a cloudless sunny day with a temperature of 85 degrees F and low humidity and I will be happy forever. You guys need to invest in a tube of self tanner and some shorts.

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jamthecat | Jul 07, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT

I like Irish weather, myself. Would love to live there.

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JHShanahan | Jul 07, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

Amen, Niall. Brother Michael and I were standing on West Street, out in front of St. Peter's Church last Sunday, enjoying the lovely bright evening and cool breezes. I'm convinced that both our skin and our temperament were made for the Irish weather. I'm to be in New York City tomorrow and I'm dreading the prospect of the heat just shimmering off the concrete. Thank God for lovely Irish weather!

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CelticQueenUSA | Jul 07, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT

There is nothing more delightful that having goose bumps in August in Ireland!! It is 103 degrees here today. A trip to Ireland would be fantastic just now.

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ronshapley | Jul 07, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT

From NYC, a hearty AMEN !!!

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Rebelforce | Jul 07, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT

If you've got a pool you wait all year for heat waves like this.

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