The folklore around animals and the weather

How many times have you looked at your weather app when it’s raining, only for your phone to insist that you’re actually mistaken and the sun is splitting the rocks!

This didn’t happen in the past. Back in the good old days, you could be sure of the weather by just taking a look around you.

If the hills seemed far away, then the weather would be good. If the cat sat with its back to the fire, then the weather would be bad. Simple!

Kelly Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore in UCD. She joins Seán to discuss the origin behind some of these weather phrases.