Looks Like Rain: 9000 Years of Irish Weather - Hardcover

Corless, Damian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1848891814 ISBN 13: 9781848891814

Publisher: The Collins Press, 2013

Synopsis

The name the Romans used for Ireland was Hibernia, meaning 'Land Of Winter' and cold feet may have influenced their leaving the Irish to their own devices. Everyone talks about the weather and its role in shaping our character. This lively overview picks out incidents when the weather - generally bad - changed the course of Ireland's history. Along the way it takes in those years - and there were quite a few - when the sun really didn't shine, as Ireland was plunged into year-long winters by far-distant volcanoes. We learn how the Irish weather probably saw off the dictator Oliver Cromwell when no Irish armies could. The Irish climate created the heavy soil that made the potato flourish in Ireland like nowhere else, with disastrous consequences. But there are uplifting stories too, such as how the Irish legend of the crock of gold at the rainbow's end came about, and thatched roofs keep out rain. In May 1953, thanks to mild weather and a big spurt in the growth of grass, the country's chocolate factory workers were put on overtime. David Lean came to Ireland fully intending to use the County Kerry weather as a starring character in his movie, Ryan's Daughter. Remarkably, Ireland's weather has remained the same moderate mixed blessing since the Romans left. Our professional forecasters still hedge their bets by predicting four seasons in one day. And if global warming diverts the Gulf Stream Ireland may really become again the wintery Hibernia the Romans wrote about.

About this title

Product Description

The name the Romans gave to Ireland was Hibernia, which means 'Land of Winter', and cold feet may have been a factor in their decision to leave the Irish to their own devices. The weather is our main topic of conversation and has done its bit in shaping our character. This lively overview shines a light on incidents when the weather - generally bad - changed the course of Ireland's history. Along the way it takes in those years - and there were quite a few - when the sun really didn't shine. We learn how Oliver Cromwell, invincible in war, most likely caught his death from a Cork mosquito. The Irish climate created the heavy soil that made the potato flourish in Ireland like nowhere else, with disastrous consequences. David Lean came to Ireland fully intending to give the County Kerry weather a starring role in his film Ryan's Daughter. He didn't make another film for fourteen years. Our professional forecasters still hedge their bets by predicting four seasons in one day - and still often get it laughably wrong. But there are sunny stories too, such as how, in 1973, the brooding Antrim weather produced one of rock music's greatest album covers, and how the Irish legend of the crock of gold at the rainbow's end came about. Remarkably, Ireland's weather has remained the same moderate mixed blessing since people first set foot on the land.

Review

Quirky - perfect present. --Irish Independent

About this edition

• Publisher: The Collins Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1848891814
• ISBN 13: 9781848891814
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224