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St. Patrick’s Cathedral

When to visit Ireland

Being close to the Atlantic Gulf Stream makes Ireland’s weather very unpredictable. Travelers may (or may not) be greeted be a sunny February or a freezing cold March.

Nonetheless, the climate is moderated by the Atlantic Gulf Stream. Thus, despite Ireland’s strange weather transitions season after season, the country’s annual temperature consistently hovers around the 10 °C (50 °F) mark.

In general, Ireland is at its coldest during January and February, with the temperatures dropping up to 4–8 °C (39.2–46.4 °F). Intermittent below-freezing temperatures may be experienced during the winter season, but snow is a rare occurrence

During the months of July and August, Ireland experiences breezy 15–20 °C (59–68 °F) days, with 16 °C (60.8 °F) as the average temperature. A 22–24 °C (71.6–75.2 F) is considerably hot for Irish standards, but there are approximately 18 hours of sunshine during the summer months, with July and August as the warmest months of the country. On these days, darkness only comes after 11:00 p.m.

What Ireland lacks in snowfall, it makes up for in rain. Certain areas in the country receive a lot of rain, getting it for as much as 270 days in a good year. The South of Ireland, however, is favored with a much more enjoyable, tourist-friendly continental climate.

The summer months are the peak season for Irish festivities. Visitors flock to Ireland in these months. This means that there will be a lot of people anywhere in the country in this season. This is the time when prices for hotels, tours, and goods are at their highest.

Visitors who are after a more relaxed and restful vacation may choose to go during the spring months of February to April, or in the fall, from August to October. Festivities for St. Patrick’s Day are held during the spring.