Rain brings relief to drought-ridden Ireland

Nenagh, 16 July 1921 – Seldom has the arrival of rain been so welcomed as it has been in recent days.

Rain was reported throughout the country bringing relief to farmers and raising hopes that the prolonged period of drought might be coming to an end.

In some parts of the country, such as Nenagh and Galway, thunderstorms were reported with vivid flashes of lightning accompanying the rain.

Farmers attending the Tullamore Fair were met by heavy rain and the downpour was greeted with great delight.

In Dublin, where many people were drenched by showers, the rain was still not sufficient to allow for an easing of the restrictions on the use of water from the Vartry Reservoir, and it is understood that more sustained rainfall will be needed for the water supply to adequately replenish.

And this might be on its way according to an editorial published in today’s Irish Times, which states that the conditions ‘remain favourable for further showers’ and that they will be welcomed ‘in the interest of the crops, of our baths and garden, of tempers in Belfast, and of atmospheres in Downing Street.’ The paper, citing statistics from England, also claims that the drought damage to crops has been less than feared

An official weather report issued yesterday states that a low pressure area in the Atlantic, some distance to the south-west of Ireland, will cause some local rain or showers in west and south-west, but other parts of the country will remain under high pressure, and continue to have moderately high temperatures.

The promise of rain. (Image: Punch Magazine, 13 July 1921)

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]