To describe what occurred at Mount Leader, Millstreet on Wednesday, 18th June 2014 at 5pm approximately there is an excellent similar incident on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FSsSN2JJAw . But back to our very own Millstreet Whirlwind! Below we feature a series of images in the aftermath of the Hayfield Whirlwind at Mount Leader off Clara Road. Joe Roche and his dedicated co-workers witnessed the developing whirlwind which occurred in the field where they were baling hay – just at the rear of my own home. Suddenly a surprise whirlwind lifted lots of hay which rose very high into the air and travelled over a number of houses in the direction of the K&L Complex depositing hay on driveways, roofs, gardens and roads. Some of the residents who witnessed the brief occurrence found it utterly surprising and somewhat frightening. Fortunately no harm was done but many people had to get the rakes and brushes to tidy up in its aftermath! We met Mary Dempsey from Galway who works at Alps Electric Ireland and she also had hay evidence that the whirlwind also passed close to the Alps Complex. So from the Funnel Cloud of some weeks past (so splendidly photographed by Ola Cashman) to yesterday evening’s Hay Whirlwind one wonders what’s next?! And now enjoy our recording of the rare occurrence even though nobody seems to have recorded the actual whirlwind …but we have the aftermath right down to when the hayfield with its many bales returned to its peaceful setting and we were treated to a truly superb sunset as we approach the longest day of the year on Saturday. And we guess that at least enough hay for one bale or more of hay travelled far from the field. Click on the images to enlarge. (S.R.)
Why this Whirlwind should have happened may be the result of the hottest day this year experienced on Wednesday and the unusual cloud formation at the time of the occurrence…perhaps. Here are some more pictures of the event which caused much conversation in the Mount Leader area.
Sometimes referred to as a “hay tornado”, or a dustdevil in a hayfield. They were very common in the past when there was no silage and everyone made hay. It probably looked something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SggrMyYAwDs
the power of nature 🙂
That was just a “sí gaoithe”
The síoga were just taking a handful of hay out the Macroom road to Teddy Connie Joe’s fairy fort
Believe it or not
Thank you for confirming the Irish name of this phenomenon “Sí gaoithe” – “fairy wind” …I had often heard the term but never witnessed what appears to be a relatively common although rare enough occurrence nowadays.