Traditional weather signs

When I was younger, I was told that pine cones could forecast the weather as they change shape according to whether it is wet or dry. In dry weather, pine cones open out as the scales shrivel up and stand out stiffly. When it is damp, they absorb moisture and as the scales become flexible again, the cone returns to its normal shape. I used to keep a fir cone near my back door and they were pretty reliable. Nature is good like that and can give us far more indications of the weather, not only for that day, but for the whole year. Problem is that most of us have lost the art of seeing the signs.

One person keeping the old tradition of weather forecasting going is Michael Gallagher from Glenfin. Michael’s forty years as a postman has given him an opportunity to meet some of the older people (particularly from the Croaghs) who still know a thing or two about predicting the weather.

In the past, people in rural Ireland, who depended so much on the weather for sowing, reaping and harvesting of crops had a fairly reliable system of their own to predict the weather. They understood that all life on earth depended on the sun so they looked to the sun and planets, wind and water, bird and beast which all depended on the sun, for guidelines. The heavenly bodies were studied very carefully by our forefathers for any changes in the weather.

Michael explains that the outline of mountains against the horizon and their ever-changing hues from day to day portrayed to the people of the Croaghs the type of weather that could be expected. “A blue haze on them meant heat, while mist meant rain. The outline of Cruach na mBoc or Gaigin appearing further away in the distance meant fair weather.”

It wasn’t just the mountains that were a signal of weather conditions. Frogs, insects, bats, bees, butterflies, birds and animals by their outward appearances, moods or movements, indicated the weather that could be expected in the days or weeks ahead. The cat was regarded in ancient Egypt as sacred, but in the Cruacha it was regarded as prophetic as regards weather.

The moon played an important part in predicting weather. The moon in all its phases was a great weather guide for the past generations. A far ring on the moon meant a storm near hand while a ring near the moon meant a far away storm. If the weather does not change at the beginning of any phase of the moon it means it will not change for the duration of that quarter. Also the first quarter of the New Moon follows the same pattern of weather as the last quarter of the old moon. In winter and early spring if the New Moon makes her appearance on the second or third day and appears like a small silvery crescent with upturned ends, it foretells frost and snow for the duration of the moon. If the moon appears to be racing behind the clouds that means wind and storms aren’t far away.

Birds

Michael also found that people looked to birds and insects for indications of weather patterns to come. “Our feathered friends are most sensitive to changes, and people who study them minutely can foretell changes in weather conditions.

The wren, robin, sparrow or finch seen washing and preening their feathers in a pool of water is a sign of fine weather. If Willy wagtails can be seen fluttering about street or farmyard, heavy rain may be expected.

Robin Redbreast

The robin flies near the house and into the barn when snow is forthcoming, but she flies in on the open door, a heavy fall of snow is fast approaching. If the robin sings in the evenings in spring or summer, rain is sure to come on the morrow.

Ducks

Ducks waddling is a sign of wind. When ducks stay out in the rain, it’s a sign that it won't fair all day!

Hens

Hens picking themselves are a sign of rain.

Magpies

As for magpies, when they gather together and chatter loudly, this means storm and rain.

Insects

Insects, slugs, butterflies, bees and frogs are sensitive to changes of weather. Worms, crawling on the road or on the surface of the ground, is a fore-bringer of rain, but, if seen crawling on the doorstep, look out for floods. During cold and inclement weather in autumn, if black horse-worms can be seen crawling on roads or walls, a good warm spell of weather can be expected. Slugs and caterpillars crawling on wallsteads, forecast rain in the near future. Ants, known as flying ants, or 'Siongain eiteogach' in Irish, when seen flying in multitudes and settling on window-sills, railings, ledges, or even on roofs and bonnets of cars, are a sure sign of approaching rain. A sting from a flying ant can be very painful, and, the more painful it is, the nearer the rain. Spiders, patiently threading their webs outside doors and windows presage bad weather, but, when they weave their webs on tops of rushes or whin bushes in early Spring, good weather is on the way.”

Buy the book

Michael has amassed a lifetimes worth of knowledge for local weather predictions and has wisely catalogued all of the stories, tips and advice in his new book ‘Tuar na hAimsire - Traditional Weather Signs’. You can order a copy from his website www.michaelgallagher.ie. It is great that old wisdom is not dying out but thanks to Michael it is accessible to a new generation. Perhaps if I had bought the book earlier, I would have got some snow chains in time for the big freeze.