Cold snap fears sparks snowshoes rush
The winter’s first snowfall occurred in Donegal last week bringing back memories of the three-week hardship endured by people when temperatures reached -17C — the coldest in the last 120 years according to meteorologists.
Richard Grant, a nationwide supplier of such outdoor equipment said a supply of more than 2,000 snow and ice shoes has already been sold out.
“The supply from the UK, which was delivered into our stock warehouses have completely sold out within a week and a half. People were caught on the hop big time last year and they don’t seem to want to let that happen again,” explained Mr Grant of ABC Abrasives. “We are so surprised as to how quickly they have sold out. People just seem to want to get them early. Although councils nationwide cleared off the snow from footpaths, etc, they were still dangerous due to the ice and people were slipping and sliding all over the place.
“We have now had to put orders in with a Far East-based company but those supplies will not arrive here until December.
One such shop, Central Key & Hardware on Dublin’s North Frederick St, received their first supply of the shoes last week and they have “already walked out the door.”
Joe Gough, shop manager, said he cannot believe the demand for the shoes. Mr Gough has worked in the business for more than 20 years and has never seen such panic buying.
“I’ve already put in another order for them. People are afraid of what this winter is going to be like. As a country we have never really become winterised, but now we are being forced to become that way.
“We got in some pallets of salt too and they have just flown out the door too. The public are beginning to realise that they are facing having to have annual winter supplies in their garages and storerooms. But we are getting more supplies.”
Other stockists, such as Expert Hardware group, which has more than 30 shops around the country, have reported the same demand.
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