Watching the way the wind blows

By Freya McClements
BBC News

Donegal postman Michael Gallagher has been forecasting the weather for 25 years

The twelfth of July may have been a washout last year, but one Donegal man thinks he can guarantee the Orange Order some sunshine for this year's parade.

Postman Michael Gallagher, from Glenfinn, has spent the last 25 years perfecting the art of predicting the weather by interpreting the natural signs around him.

This year, the flora and fauna around his postal route in the Blue Stack mountains tell him it's going to be a good summer.

"I wish the Twelfth the very best of luck.

"It was a bad year last year, but I've a hunch this year it'll be a bit better.

"What's happening now is what's known as a cuckoo storm, but the cuckoo's still here which isn't a bad sign, and I don't believe the summer's over yet.

"This rain is only a minor setback. I wouldn't throw away the suntan lotion just yet," he said.

Traditional methods

Michael picked up his interest in the weather from listening to the stories from older people in the area.

"I was always very interested that way of life and living, without a television or radio and depending on animals and nature," he said.

Weather warning signs Sheep running and jumping during lambing Stork dipping and diving along river Heather flowering early New moon on Saturday or Sunday

"Down the years they were always there or there about right, so I took down a lot of things from them, and then took it up myself.

Michael explained that he kept his eyes out for signs while driving his post van.

"In springtime when the sheep are coming into lambing, if you see them running and jumping about that's a sign of a very bad storm coming.

"And the stork, he's a reliable animal, because when he goes up the river and starts dipping and diving, that's a very bad sign.

"You have to watch the heather coming up, if it comes up a wee bit early that's bad, but this year it started to come up nicely, at the right time.

"And if a new moon comes in on a Saturday or a Sunday, be very wary of that, the month's going to be very broken," he explained.

Close to nature

Michael said he thought his methods were more reliable than those of professional meteorologists.

"Those forecasts are the science and the research, but I prefer to stick to my own wee corner in Donegal.

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"In the area I cover there are no cars and very few people left in it now.

"Everywhere you get peace and quiet, you get the river running along, and signs just come out in front of you.

"It's just a pastime for me, and I want to try and share what I have with people," he said.