Ireland used to be prone to droughts, researchers find

Recently-discovered weather records dating from the 19th century show that Ireland has been very prone to drought in the past.

It seems hard to believe given the amount of rain we get now but, according to Conor Murphy of the Department of Geography at Maynooth University, the records show the last 40 years have been unusual due to the absence of persistent drought events, which have occurred frequently over the last two centuries.

The academic discussed the recently-uncovered records in an opening keynote address at the ACRE Workshop and Historical Weather and Climate Data Forum at Maynooth University.