A warm welcome back to you and to our new subscribers.  It’s lovely to be back and to be in touch with you again.  As the summer of 2004 is drawing to a close and a new school year has begun, it is natural to look back and reflect on the summer that was or, in our case, wasn’t.   The weather didn’t particularly cooperate for us this year; we did not experience the hot, sunny days that we are used to.  Instead, it was very unpredictable and not unlike the weather experienced by our Irish counterparts.

Have you ever noticed how fascinated we are with the weather?  How many conversations are begun with the topic of the weather?  How many lulls in conversation are filled with a discussion about the weather?  One thing is certain,  the weather is a constant topic of conversation here in the Ottawa Valley as it is in Ireland.  

The Weather In Ireland

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One of Ireland’s most famous sayings is “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change”.   The weather in Ireland is extremely changeable from day to day.  It is actually impossible to summarise the seasonal trends of the Irish weather as it is totally unpredictable.  What can be said though is that Ireland does not in general suffer weather extremes.  The weather instead is palatable all year round.  Dublin tends to be drier and cooler than the west coast, which the Atlantic Ocean batters regularly.  The almost constant misty rain in Galway and Connemara leads to the classic Irish weather description of a ‘soft day’. 

Typically, summers in Ireland have warm, sunny weather and a sky dotted with gentle fluffy clouds.  Light rain occasionally occurs on days like these, but summer rain is usually restricted to a few wet days.  In July and August, the conditions can become very humid and thunders storms can occur with lightning.  The average July temperature is around 15 degrees Celsius, although temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius are not unheard of.

Typical winter weather in Ireland is clouds and rain with the occasional sunny spell.  The mountains may have snow on them for many weeks in winter, but falls on the lower ground on only a few days a year, and is generally not a feature of the Irish climate.  Temperatures hover around a January average of 5 degrees Celsius.  Overnight temperatures often drop below freezing point, and ice and frosts are common.  Each winter there are a few weeks when the temperature does not rise above freezing point all day, and rivers and lakes can partially freeze over.

Did You Know?

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• The locals often say that you can expect four seasons in one day!
• Ireland’s weather is Temperate Oceanic which means mainly ‘changeable’ or ‘unsettled’.
• Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Ireland has a mild climate all year  --  averaging 35 degrees to 45 degrees F in winter and 65 degrees to 75 degrees in summer.
• With snow rare and summers temperate, Ireland has been called the “land of perpetual spring”. 
  
• While recent summers have been warmer than usual, with temperatures soaring into the low 80s, air-conditioning  is still a novelty.
• The grass stays green all year, flowers begin to bloom in February, and palm trees flourish from the Ring of Kerry to the Glens of Antrim all year long.

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Treasured Recipe

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Irish Lace Biscuits (Type: drop; makes: 2 dozen).    There’s nothing quite like warm biscuits fresh from the oven on a rainy day.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:   3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar, 3 eggs, 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract, 3 cups rolled oats, not instant.    Method:  Preheat oven to 350°F.  Lightly grease non-stick cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.    1. Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy.  2. Beat in the eggs, salt, and almond extract.   3. Slowly add oats.   4. Drop by the spoonful on to cookie sheet about 2" apart.   5. With the heel of your hand, gently flatten the balls.   6. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.   7. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Treasured Irish Lessons

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• Phrase: I hope we have fine weather next month    Irish: Tá súil agam go mbeidh aimsear breá againn an mhí seo chugainn    Pronunciation: thaw sool ah-gum gu mye eyem-shur braw ah-ginn (hard 'g') on vee shuh hug-inn
• Phrase: It rarely gets very hot in Ireland    Irish: Ní minic a bhíonn aimsear ró-the in Éireann    Pronunciation: nee min-ik ah vee-un eyem-shur roh-heh in ay-run
• Phrase: The forecast for tomorrow is good    Irish: Tá comharthaí na haimsire go maith le haghaidh amárach   Pronunciation: Thaw cohr-hee na ham-shir-eh guh mye leh heye a-mawr-och
• Phrase: Do you have an umbrella with you? There will be rain/sleet in the afternoon   Irish: Bhfuil scath fearthainne leat? Beidh báisteach/flichshneachta sa tráthnóna      Pronunciation: Will scaw farr-hinne li-ath? Bye baw-ish-thioch/flickh-shnokh-tha sa thraw-nona
• Phrase: The Irish weather is usually so uncertain    Irish: De ghnath in Éireann bíonn an aimsear neamhchinnteacht    Pronunciation: Djeh gnaw in ayr-inn bee-on on am-shir nav-khinn-thiochth

Treasured Quotes

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A Bit O’ Wit

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Although he was a qualified meteorologist, Murphy ran up a terrible record of forecasting for the TV news program. He became something of a local joke when a newspaper began keeping a record of his predictions and showed that he'd been wrong almost three hundred times in a single year. That kind of notoriety was enough to get him fired. He moved to another part of the country and applied for a similar job. One blank on the job application called for the reason for leaving his previous position. Murphy wrote, "The climate didn't agree with me."

August 2004 Trivia

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1.  What is the most popular daily weather forecast in Ireland?
2.  What are the sunniest months in Ireland?
3.  How many hours of sunshine does Ireland get each year?
4.  The duration of bright sunshine is measured by what instrument?

July 2004 Trivia Answers

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Congratulations to Diane Lloyd of Petawawa for correctly answering July’s trivia questions.  Diane received an Irish coffee mug for her efforts.  Here are the answers.
1.  For many years, San Francisco claimed the honour for inventing Irish Coffee.
2.  Sheridan Bar is the name of the bar in the Departures Lounge of the Shannon Airport.
3.  Powers Gold Label Whiskey is also know as ‘three swallow’ whiskey.
4.  The theme for this year’s Irish Coffee Festival was ‘Dragons, Druids and Divas’.

Treasured Events

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:-) Half Way To St. Patrick’s Day :-) -- That’s right!  September 17th is half way to the grand man’s day.  Come in for a wee visit and enjoy 17% off all regularly priced items.
Tin Whistle and Bodhran Lessons beginning soon --  please email me at oreillystreasures@bellnet.ca or call 613-646-7157 to register so that our instructor, Con Hunt, and I can begin scheduling workshops.

New Arrivals

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Nigel Hunt Jewellery  --  new amethyst and rainbow moonstone pendants and earrings as well as some new cognac amber pieces.  Also included in this order are some new additions to our Matisse jewellery line.
Timeless Treasures -- more Celtic toe rings and Celtic cross pendants.
Century Irish Items --  Built Irish Tough and Pubs of Ireland t-shirts, ‘tis himself aprons, shamrock ties, distressed wooden signs and welcome slates.
Fragrances of Ireland -- Inis Arose body lotion, Inis cologne, body lotion, bath salts and soap, Innisfree eau de parfum and body lotion, Connemara eau de parfum, Naturally Irish Heather & Moss vegetable oil soap,  Sweet Lavender cologne, vegetable oil soap and bath salts as well as Wild Blackberry soap.
The James Import Company  --  Guinness pint silk ties, Shamrock tee, Guinness Pint & Shamrock tee, Green With Envy tee, Luck of the Irish tee, Size Matters tee, Red Rugby, Green/Black Rugby, Toucan Rugby, Black Signature Rugby, Green Ladies Skinny, Green  Ladies Rugby and Traditional Craft Shamrock Badge Rugby, and Tricolour Shamrock Badge Rugby.
The Cat and The Moon  --  sterling silver shamrock cluster pendant and ring, shamrock loop studs and  Inismurray Celtic cross pendants.
Kerry Woollen Mills  --  Tara capes and ruanas in various colours as well as Aran knit tunic, crew neck and zip sweaters.
Keltic Designs  --  Welsh artist Jen Delyth’s beautiful designs -- Celtic Mandala Journals, Celtic Mandala 2005 Calendars, Birds of Rhiannon scarves, Tree of Life tees, Pentacle Knot tees as well as Jen’s top selling Tree of Life jewellery line.
Jewel Tomes  --  Celtic Italian dangle charms including Irish dancers, soft shoes, claddaghs, thistles, and bag pipers.
Patriazi Italian Charms, Casa D’Orna Italian Charms, Spring Hill Italian Charms  --  Irish charms, Notre Dame, Scottie dogs, shamrocks, fairies, claddaghs, and much more!

Back to School Blessing

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May all your answers be always right.
May all your teachers be the best.
May too much homework not spoil your night.
May you score a hundred on every test.
May you study hard and learn a lot.
May you grow in wisdom, yet learn to rest.
For while the days pass slowly when you’re young,
In no time at all, it will be summer again.
Adapted and edited from an original blessing by Andrew M. Greeley.  

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May the sun always shine on your windowpane
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you:
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

And remember, mind yourself.