Sparrows warning over fire threat

WE return to Ireland to find the weather as sunny as that which we enjoyed on the Mediterranean during our recent visit.

I noticed that the Lanzarote-suntan sported by one of my poker-playing pals, an Irish-American lawyer and long-time west Cork resident, had barely faded during our 12-day absence. He explained that he had been out of doors, painting his garden shed.

It has been a lovely April so far, although evenings can be chilly. Yesterday I saw smoke from some of the village chimneys curling skyward against yet another magnificent sunset. But, I’ve seen the same phenomenon on warm August evenings. I could only guess the fires were lit for sentimentality rather than for the heat provided, with families from overseas visiting and the old tradition of gathering around the hearth once more enjoyed.