First daffodil already in bloom

on 04/01/2013 00:00:00

Clodagh, 8, from Brennan's Glen in Kerry, could scarcely believe her eyes when she spotted the solitary yellow flower floating on high o'er a town centre flower-bed in Killarney yesterday afternoon.

Weeks ahead of the normal daffodil season, it caught the imagination of passersby who all considered the third day of January astonishingly early for a mini-bloom of one of the country's most loved flowers.

The arrival of the first daffodil, in a town council-planted flower bed at the entrance to the High Street car park, is being attributed to the surprisingly mild weather that Kerry has enjoyed in recent weeks.

Continuous as the stars that shine, it has led to a huge surge in outdoor activities during the festive season, with children availing of the dry and calm conditions in the local parks to put the new bicycles or go-karts delivered by Santa to the test.

Parking spaces have been at a premium at the entrance to Killarney National Park at Knockreer all through the week such is the increase in walker and jogger activity.

Temperatures in Cork and Kerry hit 15C yesterday, positively balmy for this time of the year.