Across the Wild Atlantic Way, businesses have confronted a season of significant strain. But this is not the kind of pressure that flows from the barometer, but one that comes with the need to capitalise on sunny days. The susceptibility of each business to weather variances is uneven, as some manage to continue thriving despite wind-chilled, rain-soaked holidaymakers wrapping up their vacation.
Consider the families patiently waiting for the Wild West Children’s Play Centre based in Westport to begin welcoming visitors. According to its proprietor, Tish Gill, the scene isn’t hard to envisage; children up since dawn in various campsites and Airbnb spots all around Clew Bay on notably rain-sodden mornings. They are eager for some entertainment, while their parents desire a break and a steaming cup of coffee. The centre’s indoor playground, which houses ball pits, themed structures, snake slides, a sensory room, and a dedicated toddler zone, provides just that.
While poor weather conditions during this holiday period and the preceding summer have been challenging for some, Gill points out they’ve been a blessing for the play centre. She notices it’s not solely tourists who frequent the facilities. Families from across the county and further visit for a session of play on damp days.
Moreover, the popularity of Wild West has surged due to the shutting down of an alike centre in Belmullet, partially attributed to hefty insurance premiums, Gill adds.
Meanwhile at the heart of the heritage town, Hugh Boyle, owner of Christy’s Harvest cafe, conveys that despite the present crowd, bad weather forcing him to shut his deck area results in losses comprising half his potential daily earnings. To him, the deck is a lifeline; it doubles the cafe’s indoor space. Yet regretfully, the unpredictable Irish weather means it couldn’t be used often this year. Even though the deck is equipped with umbrellas, horizontal Irish rain driven by the wind can make the area unusable. Boyle needs a team of two to manage the deck, but it’s not as simple as just sending them home when bad weather keeps the deck closed.
This year has seen a decline in foot traffic, despite heavy vehicular traffic. The majority of it seems to just pass through the town towards the bustling Louisburgh and then onwards to Connemara. The owner is fortunate to have a robust local trade to sustain his business, fearing that a lack of one could bring serious ramifications. Operating a small-scale business which pays just above the minimum wage in Westport’s pricey rental market is challenging. Nevertheless, the business keeps running, mainly thanks to summer student staff who live rent-free at home. He notes his frequent need to shut his enterprise a few times each year due to a scarcity of steady full-time staff.
Boyle does highlight a silver lining, where the unpredictable weather peculiarly attracts numerous European tourists. Visitors from hot European countries like Spain, France, Italy, and Greece express delight at the change in climatic conditions from their ongoing heatwaves at home.
Just across the street, the recently enlarged Portwest Outdoor Shop is teeming with customers. Outdoor essentials like rain jackets and hiking boots are in huge demand, especially considering the high rainfall Westport has seen this summer. Linda Culkin, the manager, indicates a significant growth in sales compared to last year’s rainfall-stricken July. Many unprepared visitors, particularly Europeans, Americans and Canadians, find themselves caught off guard by the excessive rain.
Nevertheless, most clients are here for outdoor adventure activities like climbing Croagh Patrick or camping, explains Culkin. Further, Commercial Director Orla Good from the Hughes family which owns the chain, emphasizes the importance of dressing aptly for the weather. The unpredictable weather doesn’t deter ambitious outdoor enthusiasts, owing to the plethora of activities available around Clew Bay, with Westport conveniently located right in the middle. Despite the rain, they participate in a variety of activities ranging from mountain hiking, sea safaris, angling to beach outings. For such adventurers, the ocean turns out to be their favourite place, no matter the weather.
Noel O’Leary, a long-time operator of Irish Adventures, frequently invests his time guiding tourists on kayaking expeditions, primarily in the Dingle peninsula’s diverse waters far to the south. For nearly two decades, O’Leary has made it a point to diligently monitor meteorological predictions and wind velocities each day.
“While conditions can sometimes be inconsistent, our base is agreeably positioned for tourists,” he comments. Unsurprisingly, our operations are highly influenced by weather conditions. Excessive winds, which we measure in forces – like four or five – cause us to postpone or even cancel our voyages according to their intensity.”
The nature of the enterprise is such that precipitation can deter individuals, leading to cancellations just half an hour before a tour is supposed to start. O’Leary mentions, “We try to convince them that the rain is harmless once they’ve got their gear on.”
“Our primary staging area is Dingle, from where we embark on most of our journeys, mainly along the coastline and through sea caves. However, today was quite the conundrum, as we were faced with a no-go scenario due to force five winds.” Instead, he aims for a trip to Killarney National Park, taking his group from Ross Castle to Lough Leane. The route is especially picturesque, noted for its woodlands and a rich history of legends and mythology.
His typical clientele is an even mix of locals and international guests, but there’s been a marked decrease in domestic tourism in recent times. He points towards the noticeable impact of tenure paucity and elevated prices in places like Dingle and Killarney. O’Leary highlights, “It certainly didn’t help that we had only two days in July with temperatures exceeding 20 degrees while August proved to be a turbulent month of gusty weather.”
O’ Leary finds comfort in his client’s understanding, he states, “A large part of the international client base, particularly Americans who form over half our demographic, keep reminding me that people don’t visit Ireland for its weather.” In fact, a group from Texas recently expressed relief to be away from the sweltering heat back home. “During particularly inclement weather, we usually recommend alternative indoor activities, though options can be limted in smaller villages.
Meanwhile, in the northern section of the Wild Atlantic Way, at the foot of Sliabh Liag in the village of Carrick, County Donegal, Séamus and Nora Gallagher have been operating Ireland by Bike since 2010.
Séamus admits that coping with the inclement weather both this year and the previous one has been a tough task, but notes it hasn’t significantly affected their business. This is because most bookings are made as far as a year in advance, meaning they receive guests regardless of the circumstances. However, when faced with severe rain and wind, they often advise their visitors to remain indoors. This can prove difficult in smaller villages where alternative indoor activities are scarce, but they strive to find solutions. There are occasional individuals who show resilience, stating they’ll withstand it.
They are undoubtedly swayed by his eloquent narrative about “the drama of cycling under varying weather conditions.”