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Horse and Cart Road Dangers

The Torrential Rain of 1839

Posted on May 26, 2009July 22, 2024 by Sharon Slater

A Glimpse into 19th-Century Weather

In the pages of the Limerick Chronicle from September 21, 1839, we find a vivid account of the dire weather conditions that plagued the region. This historical weather report captures not only the relentless and unyielding nature of the rain, but also the profound impact it had on the landscape and the lives of those who depended on the harvest. The description paints a sombre picture of meadows and cornfields suffering under a relentless downpour, reflecting the deep struggles faced by the harvest labourers as they battled the elements to save their crops.

With few and short intervals only, the weather has continued, since our last, wet and gloomy, the rain falling with pitiless aspect upon our meadows and cornfields, adding every hour to the ruin and devastation which prevails, and giving the country a most melancholic appearance, which prevails, and giving the appearance, which the harvest labourers behold in absolute despair. In one fair hour, which they eagerly avail themselves of to snatch part of their crop from impending ruin, they are driven from work the remainder of the day by rain, which undoes what little they had saved.

In many places the wheat fields are only half cut, not gathered in, but the grain lying on the ground drenched with water, and in others the grain will never be cut. There was loud thunder yesterday in the county of Clare, followed by torrents of rain, which inundated a tillage. The lowlands in and about the City and Liberties, far as the eye can reach, present almost an unbroken sheet of water, and the inundation has advanced nearly a foot this week.

The weather was always on the mind in Limerick. In 1795, Dr.Crumpe’s recorded a daily report where he detailed the ever-changing fortunes of the Irish weather.

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About Limerick’s Life

This website is a personal project of Sharon Slater, born from a passion for Limerick and its history. It has been maintained, updated and contributed to it independently and voluntarily. If you'd like to buy me a coffee to keep Limerick's history online, please know that all donations will go directly into the costs of hosting the website and the time and travel to research and write the articles found on the site.

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