204: M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 
June is stated to be a convenient time to be in the camp. ‘‘ Whereas, if the service 
should be deferred until winter, difficulties should they find in the foulness of the 
weather, and deepness of the way.” In July, the Lord President left Limerick, to 
relieve a place in Kerry, “and set forward the three and twentieth of July ; but, 
whereas by reason of continual rain, that had lately fallen in great abundance, it was 
thought that the mountain of Sleulogher was impassable for carriages, was con- 
stramed to take the way of Thomond.” In January, the Lord Dunboyne forced 
Redmond Burke’s forces into the Nore, where seventy of his men were drowned, 
*‘ the river Nore being at that time very high. The ninth of August Sir Francis and 
his troops lodged at Alphine, in the County Roscommon; the morning following was 
dark and misty.” 
(September.) And no sooner could there a ship appear upon the coast, but 
presently it was supposed to be a Spaniard, but there none appeared before the seven- 
teenth of the same month, which the Lord President perceiving, and that the 
winds still were contrary, and the weather very stormy and tempestuous.” 
(October.) It is stated that in this month some ships with provisions were detained 
in Waterford, “ enforced to stay there, the wind being southerly.” 
The early part of the month is described as so wet, that it was unfit for the army 
to take the field. . 
A short time after the commencement of the siege of Kingsale, the weather is 
described ‘falling out very foul.” And again, “ We attended all that day for the 
landing of the artillery, and perfected the entrenchment about the army, which was 
left unperfected the day before, through the extreme foulness of the weather.” 
(November.) ‘‘ For the mountain Slewphelim, which, in summer time, is a good 
ground to pass over, was, by reason of great rains, so wet and boggy, as that no 
carriage or horse could pass over.” ‘The writer of the Pacata Hibernia next speaks 
of the frost that enabled O’Donnell’s army to cross this mountain, on their way to 
assist the Spaniards: ‘There happened a great frost, the like whereof hath been 
seldom seen in Ireland.” 
An account is given, that ships, with supplies from England to the siege of 
Kingsale, were driven to the “southermost part of Ireland” by’ the foulness of the - 
weather. The besiegers were prevented on the 17th from attempting any thing, on 
account of the weather, but at night, “when the storm was somewhat appeased,” 
they caused some officers to view the ground of Castle Ny Parke. Next, the extreme 
frost is spoken of asa difficulty in making approaches: “Continued to work all 
night, and although the ground was extremely hard, and the night very light, yet 
they brought the work to very good perfection.” 
The variable nature of the climate is well marked by the next quotation—‘ The 
enemy sallied about eight of the clock in the night, being extreme dark and rainy, 
with about two thousand men.” 
MG: 
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