Sir, – It’s possible to be both right and wrong at the same time when discussing Irish weather (Letters, August 26th). Overall rainfall may indeed be below averages for national statistics in the months of June and July, but on closer inspection there are large variations in regions and within regions. In my locality, farmers were housing livestock in August for the second season in a row due to excessive rainfall. This is unprecedented, while 20 miles away farmers are experiencing low grass growth due to rainfall deficits, although recent heavy downpours have alleviated this.
There is little doubt, however, that rainfall and drought patterns are significantly altering, as are our traditional notions of what constitutes our seasons, in this era of global warming. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
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Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.