As western Europe, including Britain (which remains trapped geographically despite Brexit) heats up, it really is time Ireland took measures to avoid what has become of Barcelona, Venice, Dubrovnik, most of Spain, the Canary Islands and so on. No overtourism here, please.
Our costs may protect us from being overrun but, with our generally lower summer temperatures, that may not save our precious isle from sweating hordes escaping heat.
Where our immediate neighbours are concerned, the lower cost of travelling here may compensate for our out-of-this-world prices, making Ireland an attractive alternative to baked Alsace, self-combusting Spain or toasted Italy.
That is, those of the neighbours who decide not to head north to our awkward cousins in Scotland. I say “awkward”, as so many of our Scots cousins took a “wrong” turn somewhere and treat this whole island as though we were all Celtic supporters. Many of us are, but still.
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They should remember that even the Scot in Scotland they owe to us Irishry and that our ancestors set up the mighty kingdom of Dál Riada in western Scotland during the fifth century. We even made Christians of them over there, for God’s sake - or tried to - thanks to Donegal man Columcille.
But back to the mainland (Ireland). We have a glorious chance here, as Europe melts due to climate change. To be crude, and to paraphrase Daniel O’Connell (referring to the neighbours), “Europe’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity”, even as we like our European neighbours so much more than the country Dan had in mind when he coined that phrase.
Our Wild Atlantic Way, with its 2,500km covering the spectacular route from Inishowen in Donegal to Kinsale in Cork – the longest such coastal route in the world – is likely then to smother under visitors blown away by its rugged beauty. So, while you can and we still (to a degree) have it to ourselves, enjoy it now.
However, it may be wise for all to avoid mainly midland counties, almost half of the 26, which – as we saw last month – have continental tendencies when it comes to heat. Who would have thought Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford would be too hot to handle? You’re joking?
Opportunity, from Latin opportunitatem, for “favourable time”
