[Alandriel (OP)]

Don't you just LOVE windmills?



I know I do, especially the old traditional ones  []


Now someone has just told me :


Windmills always turn counter-clockwise, unless they're in Ireland


No way..... right?


Or was that left??

 []

[opus]

Anyone know why...? if it's true...

[stana]

Why Ireland? It couldnt only just be ireland, Maybe because of the direction of the wind, but doesnt that mean it would cross over to the UK?

Im not totall sure, but maybe its time to observe some windmils.

[Bored chemist]

All windmills turn clockwise if viewed from one side and counterclockwise if viewed from the other side.

[another_someone]

Now, is it also true for vertical axis windmills?

Anyone yet tried a contra-rotating windmill?

[JimBob]

It is all in the gearing. Are Irish windmills geared differently?

[wolfekeeper]

Unless there's some convention, it sounds like a racist urban legend to me. They rotate whichever way you build them to rotate.