Sir, - Brendan McWilliams, in his always entertaining "Weather Eye", said (June 25th) it was nonsense to suggest that the change that occurs in some plants, before rain, should be taken as a long range forecast; an immediate omen, maybe, but not in the long term.
Many will not agree with Brendan on this point. Observant farmers and other outdoor workers and observers, judge the type of growth in fields, dykes and hedges and can forecast future weather patterns for a considerable time in advance.
Farmer/forecaster, David Metcalfe, in the Ballyhowras, the high countryside between north Co Cork and south Limerick, foretold this year's mixed, broken, summer elements on the Pat Kenny radio show, some months back. He said that the ash "stirred" before the oak earlier in spring - a sign of unsettled weather to come, with a scarcity of summer sunshine.
How about that? - Yours, etc.,
Richie O'Grady,
Fermoy,
Co Cork.