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STORM FRONT IN MAYO – The Story of the D-Day Forecast ***Documentary***

Blacksod Lighthouse 2 Image Name: Blacksod Lighthouse 2
Vincent Sweeney - Lighthouse Keeper, Blacksod 2 Image Name: Vincent Sweeney - Lighthouse Keeper, Blacksod 2
Gerald Fleming - Head of Forecasting, Met Éireann (2010-2017) 2 Image Name: Gerald Fleming - Head of Forecasting, Met Éireann (2010-2017) 2
Joe Cattini - D Day Veteran, Royal Artillery, Hertsfordshire Yeomanry 2 Image Name: Joe Cattini - D Day Veteran, Royal Artillery, Hertsfordshire Yeomanry 2
David McCullagh 2 - Author, De Valera Image Name: David McCullagh 2 - Author, De Valera
Susan Eisenhower 1 - Granddaughter of General Dwight D Eisenhower Image Name: Susan Eisenhower 1 - Granddaughter of General Dwight D Eisenhower
Maureen Sweeney - Storm Front in Mayo Image Name: Maureen Sweeney - Storm Front in Mayo
Maureen Sweeney - Storm Front in Mayo Image Name: Maureen Sweeney - Storm Front in Mayo
Maureen Sweeney's weather chart from June 3rd `1944 at Blacksod Image Name: Maureen Sweeney's weather chart from June 3rd `1944 at Blacksod

.For a few tense days in June 1944, the success of the greatest military invasion the world had ever seen depended on weather readings taken by 21-year-old Maureen Sweeney at the remote Blacksod weather station on Ireland’s west coast.

This documentary includes a special interview with the now 96-year-old Maureen – providing a living link to a unique moment in history, when military might and meteorological analysis collided.

Maureen’s data from the West coast of Ireland threw Eisenhower’s meticulously planned invasion strategy into chaos, forcing him to mediate between opposing US & UK weather advisors and Generals and ultimately leaving him alone to make one of the most difficult decisions in the entire war.

Completely unaware of the significance of her work – she was simply doing their job – Maureen’s readings were the first to point out an impending storm which led to the postponement of the invasion.

Then, in an impossibly dramatic twist, her readings were subsequently first to pinpoint a short window of opportunity that Eisenhower needed to launch, thereby changing the path of the war.

Featuring contributions from Susan Eisenhower (granddaughter of the General), renowned historian Antony Beevor, D Day veteran Joe Cattini, a selection of military experts, meteorologists and archive footage this fascinating documentary paints an incredible picture of Ireland’s previously unknown role in one of the most pivotal events in world history.