Joe McNamee: Why August is truly the cruellest month — for weather and food alike

"If it has rained through June and July, August bears promise of redemption; if June and July have honoured their seasonal solar contract, and are then followed by a fine August, then it is gloriously excessive — after all, who ever spurned sunshine?"

An Irish August is a fickle creature, capable of raining on any parade in the most literal fashion, but when August is in a good mood, there is no finer month, the high point of summer.

Sat, 30 Aug, 2025 - 01:00

Joe McNamee

A former chef, Joe McNamee is Senior Food Writer at the Irish Examiner. Holding a BA in Culinary Arts, he writes about food and reviews restaurants for Weekend.

An Irish August is a fickle creature, capable of raining on any parade in the most literal fashion, but when August is in a good mood, there is no finer month, the high point of summer.

If it has rained through June and July, August bears promise of redemption; if June and July have honoured their seasonal solar contract, and are then followed by a fine August, then it is gloriously excessive — after all, who ever spurned sunshine?