Challenges ahead as climate changes

UNLESS they’ve been abroad on skiing holidays, many young Irish people have never seen a real heavy fall of snow, or extended periods of winter frost.

These matters came up in conversations with members of the rising generation during Christmas — discussions that made yours truly seem very old, indeed.

It all arose during our reminiscence of the harsh winter of 1963 when a deep blanket of snow covered much of the Irish countryside for over a month. It was a great time for us children because many rural schools were closed. Mounds of drifting snow made some boreens virtually impassable and even dangerous for pupils who walked miles to school.