Climate change means warmer summer and winter temperatures. Current predictions suggest that summer averages will be 1.5 higher by 2020 and winter averages up 0.5 meaning fewer frosts and making white Christmasses near impossible.

Summers will be longer and winters shorter. Recent research in the journal Nature indicates that the spring to autumn growing season is already 10 days longer than it was a few decades ago and can be expected to lengthen.

Research suggests that while winters will be wetter, summers will be drier than in the past. This will help make the summer barbecue a more predictable event, but there are still no guarantees of sunshine because of uncertainty over what will happen with cloud cover.

Ireland will probably still be too cool for credible wine production but warmer air will mean the opportunity to grow crops and plants typical of more southerly climes. We could also become major producers of grains and vegetable oil plants which have a high export value.

Warmer air and sea temperatures will take the blue out of a visit to the beach, something that might in fact make Ireland a new more temperate mecca for Continental sun worshippers seeking to escape the heat and drought of the Mediterranean. This will bring new tourism opportunities.

We can expect new types of house construction making increased use of stone and tiles which will help keep indoor temperatures low during the long hot summer and help reduce the need for air conditioning.

Holidaying at home will become much more attractive. The Mediterranean region is expected to become hot and dry to the point of desertification so there will be no place like home for a holiday in the coming years.