The recent news of a gentleman who claimed to be able to produce rain at will in South America would have been a much-welcomed blessing for County Limerick during the past couple of months. The prevailing condition in the Newcastle district is severe dryness, causing an agricultural drought that seems unrelenting. Farmers are facing difficult times, with scarce crops, and the risk of wildfires is a real concern, with some meadows already being damaged by passing trains. A farmer from Ballintubber, lamenting the effects of the drought, even expressed willingness to contribute a small sum of money for a rain-maker to help their district. It seems that the skill of creating moisture could potentially bring great fortune to those who possess it in the future.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 01 August 1905