Ireland’s seasonal identity crisis — what is it and how can we adjust?

It’s March. The daffodils are out, the evenings are getting longer, and winter is officially over.  Or is it ...?

The daffodils are in bloom but depending on who you ask, we are either well into spring, just starting it, or still technically in winter.

It’s March. The daffodils are out, the evenings are stretching, and someone, somewhere has confidently declared that winter is over. The coats are still on, admittedly, and there’s a fair chance of hail, but psychologically at least, we’re moving on. Or are we?

According to the meteorological calendar, spring began on March 1st. According to the astronomical calendar, it won’t begin until later this month, at the equinox. And according to the traditional Irish calendar, we’ve been in spring since February 1st. So, depending on who you ask, we are either well into spring, just starting it, or still technically in winter. Ireland runs on more than one set of seasons, and they don’t always agree.