A fierce storm hit Ireland today. The strongest wind speed was recorded at Shannon Airport…150 kms per hour. A tornado struck in Athleague and then went on to Roscommon town where about 100 trees were uprooted and houses were damaged. People interviewed on the radio said it was like a plane coming in to land.
We are lucky here to be sheltered to the west and south by the forest. It was still an indoor day though. Andy ventured out to walk the dogs and bring in fuel for the stoves.
I made the house smell of Summer by using the last Strawberries from the freezer to make jam. I’ve had that Strawberry shaped jar for years. Saw it in a supermarket in Rathdowney full of jam and just had to have it. Every year since it has been filled and refilled with the preserve of Summer days.
At five o clock our electricity went. Luckily we had lots of candles in stock. Dinner was cooked by candlelight on the gas hob…a hearty bean stew enjoyed in the shadowy flickering light. I find candlelight so nice…softer and more atmospheric than the cold impersonal light from electricity. The old Irish people used to say that the spirits left the houses when electricity arrived.
Amazingly the power cut only lasted about two hours for us. I know a lot of people in the south are still without electricity. Watching the TV news just now it seems they took the brunt of those high winds. Many trees down throughout Cork and Kerry. Lots of damage to buildings too. Thankfully no lives have been lost. The same storm is also battering the UK. England is now in the midst of a national crisis due to the severe flooding. Another storm is forecast for the weekend. When? Oh when will it ever end?
fromacountrycottage 
The tornado sounds terrifying…Very stormy here, and another big tree blown over in our garden today – and we are on the East coast of the UK, far from the worst of it! Feeling very lucky to be warm and dry today. Hope the weather calms for you too, stay safe.
So glad your are okay-a true homesteader!
We have had more than 30 days of below zero temperatures, the snow in my county is already at 105 inches for the winter to date.
Snow/ice storms/power outages have hit the USA south today as well, North Carolina and towards Washington DC and Boston. Unfortunately those in the south are not use to or prepared for ice and snow… BE SAFE!!
This is just the beginning as climate changes come to the US and beyond….
“When? Oh when will it ever end?”..Indeed. So glad all is well despite the storm. I live in the States and this has been the coldest, snowiest winter we’ve had for years. We’re bracing for another storm tonight…..Brrr.
Same here…another one due for Valentine’s Day. Not to be as severe though.
I hope your weather patterns will normalize soon. Dare I say that ours are starting to do so? Our 10-day forecast is for weather very near normal late-winter weather with highs hovering near freezing. Perhaps the “normalization” will work its way east to you as the jet streams flatten out a bit. I’m glad you are OK in your location.
No sign of it going for a while I’m afraid, we are now seeing puddles where they have never been before, the donkeys are fed up,the cats have gone into hibernation ( wish I could join them) hens are very fed up, just the ducks are happy, they don’t mind it at all. I thought this was supposed to be spring.
Spring is in theory so far this year. So looking forward to when it really arrives. Hope you got through the storm ok.
Yes fine, no animal housing damaged, and no loss of power.
Mother Nature has been cruel this year. Drought here; floods and fierce winds there. I’m glad you are safe.
Hope you’re ok? So far so good for us….
All well here. Another storm coming tomorrow but not as severe. A stormy Valentine’s Day it seems.
My thoughts are with all those suffering in these dreadful conditions. When will the politicians have the guts to admit that this is what climate change is all about, not some pleasant thought of gentle warming but extremes in weather that causes damage on a large scale. We are reaping where we sowed!
and still they refuse to change their destructive policies.
It was pretty shocking here too – thankfully our electricity wasn’t affected – when is it all going to end?
When indeed! No one seems to know the answer to that right now. Hopefully soon. Keep safe and warm. x
It was very scary here in Co. Limerick, near the Cork border. Trees down everywhere, lorries blown over, roofs off, poly tunnels destroyed. Schools and businesses closed, in fact entire towns closed down. I’ve never seen anything like it!
Crazy stuff and it seems there’s more to come. Oh for Summer days in the garden.
It sounds like you weathered the storm very successfully! The description makes it all sound so cozy and fine but I know it’s still kind of scary! We’re due for about 10 inches of snow in the next 36 hours but not high winds . . .
I hope you have lots of supplies in. Keep safe and warm.
I love how you spent the day bottling summer. Brilliant. Yesterday wasn’t a good day. We had gales, lashing rain, thunder and lightning, hail and sleet. We were half expecting locusts next. 😉 And now we’re braced for tomorrow. Still we are so very lucky because our home is dry and not knee deep in sewage. Weird weather around the globe. Drought in western US, snow storms on the east coast of America, extreme heat in Australia.
It has all gone crazy. Like you we are lucky in not being flooded. So sorry for the folks that are though. More crazy weather to come it seems.
I am so glad you stayed safe in the storm, Bridget. Crazy weather all around the globe it seems. I love the way you handled it. It’s a stay-indoors day here today because of a major snow storm. Your posting reminded me I have rhubarb in the freezer and somewhere I have a recipe for rhubarb and strawberry jam (using strawberry Jello). Thanks for the inspiration. P. x
No probs Pam. Those flavours work really well together. Won’t be long now until we have fresh Rhubarb.
Weather has gone to extremes all over the world, it seems. I’m so glad to hear you were safe, warm and “bottling summer” in your cozy cottage. Thanks, Bridget!
Firstly I apologize for the late reply, but you can blame Hurricane/Storm Darwin for that 🙂 Our power went out at lunchtime yesterday and didn’t come back on til lunchtime today. Thankfully I didn’t have too much damage,just a fence here and there.But our old hothouse’s roof did split in 2, but we kinda knew that would happen, might put netting on it instead and grow brassicas in there. I sympathize with others who had a lot more damage done, like glasshouses collapsing and sheds falling.
Bridget, I would love to have been up there in your home last night, it looks so inviting and the smell of fresh home made jam…mmmmm. Take care and here’s hoping the next storm will be the last x
I hope you continue to be safe. Here – there are floods in-land and the sea keeps invading round the edges but precisely where I live – everything is safe and calm. It’s an odd feeling (though a welcome one) amidst so much destruction and distress.
Glad all is ok with you. Hoping this will end soon…so much to do in the garden.
I am glad you are safe from the storm, Ireland’s weather has changed as well as here in Western Massachusetts . Its hard to believe that people still say there is no global warming. As I write the snow is coming down sideways about 2-3 inches per hour, the winds are picking up. Before this storm we have had bone chilling cold, this is the new norm..We have to make changes to keep ourselves safe and warm. You have done that in your cottage and I am working on it in mine.
The only ones here at the farm who love this weather are Maude and Carol k two of my sheep, they are out an about in this and covered with show.
I enjoy your blog
Ireland’s weather has changed dramatically over the last few years. The biggest change I notice is the rain. Where once we had soft rain we now have downpours. More like monsoon rain. Keep safe and warm. Hope your larder is full.
Yesterday I was watching news about this storm in Ireland — huge lorries have been taken by the wind and dumped sideways!! It’s great to know that you are doing fine.
I also love candle-light — it is so much more romantic and dramatic. Too bad we can’t use it here in all these wooden houses.
Did’nt realise your house was wooden. Must be lovely and cosy.
Hold tight Bridget! It has to end soon. I agree about the rain- it’s never a light drizzle anymore but torrential onslaught. Keep safe…K 🙂
It’s coming from the south west today. Hope you are ok down there. Keep safe and warm. x
Been asking the same question here…. so totally fed up of these storms. We’ve lost 6 trees and the roof of a shed so far!
So glad you are safe…tornadoes scare me. Seems lots of fierce storms all over the world….we keep getting dumped on.
It’s certainly been crazy weather, we’re just happy that our little wooden house is standing firm ! As for cooking by candlelight…… welcome to my world.:)
Glad all is ok over there. Hopefully we will all be gardening soon.