| There is probably no nicer place in the world on a | | | | weather and he has an enviable record. For |
| sunny day than Ireland with its incredible scenery | | | | example, in December 2009, he predicted that he |
| carved from all the treasures that nature has to | | | | was "90 per cent certain" there would be snow in |
| offer. Blue skies envelope majestic green | | | | Ireland on Christmas Day and noted the behaviour |
| mountains and valleys, stunning rivers, lakes and | | | | of the way animals such as cattle, foxes and |
| coastline. But switch from that scene to one of | | | | sheep and also the way in which the grass was |
| rain, hail and wind and suddenly Ireland is not such | | | | still growing in mild late October. Those following |
| an attractive place at all. We Irish are used to it, | | | | his forecasts made a killing in the bookies when |
| but somebody on an Ireland travel experience | | | | his prediction came true much to the annoyance |
| from the continent or the United States might | | | | of officials in Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorology |
| find it considerably off-putting and leave with | | | | Office, who had stated that they could not tell at |
| unpleasant memories of their stay. | | | | that time if it was likely there would be a snowfall |
| Located where it is in the North West Atlantic, | | | | during the Christmas period. |
| Ireland is exposed to harsh environmental | | | | The good news is that Michael is predicting a very |
| elements emanating from the Arctic Circle with | | | | good June and July in 2010 and a possible heat |
| little protection because of its position as being the | | | | wave in the second part of August. Those who |
| first land in Europe to encounter the malignant | | | | live in Ireland and have suffered great uncertainty |
| ocean-swept forces of Mother Nature. For the | | | | in booking holidays abroad, and have therefore |
| past two years, Ireland has encountered awful | | | | decided on an Ireland holiday, will surely welcome |
| summers of consistent rain, but one amateur | | | | this news. And one could do a lot worse on an |
| expert in Donegal reckons that the summer of | | | | Irish holiday than pay a visit to the county of this |
| 2010 will be a great one weather- wise for Ireland. | | | | extraordinary postman/meteorologist. Donegal has |
| Michael Gallagher is a postman in Glenfin, County | | | | it all, as they say, and assuming the correctness |
| Donegal who has very successfully predicted the | | | | of Michael's forecast, could be in for a boom |
| weather in Ireland for the last 40 years. He claims | | | | summer season. If you meet him, the least you |
| a knowledge of, and interest in nature arms him | | | | could do is buy him a drink! |
| with the resources to accurately forecast the | | | | |