The Weather in Ireland

Will the weather be nice while you’re in Ireland on vacation? What should you wear? Should you pack an umbrella? These are questions nearly tourist asks when preparing for a trip to the Emerald Isle.

1. Don’t Believe the “Snowy Ireland” Rumor

Most people are shocked when I tell them that the weather was comfortable during the winter I lived in Dublin, Ireland. But it’s true. The average temperature each day was around 50 degrees F, and it only snowed once…if you’d even call it snowing. It was more like 30 minutes of light flurries. The truth is that it rarely gets cold enough in Ireland to produce snow. Although Ireland is pretty far north, it is an island and receives warm, moist winds from the Atlantic which makes the weather deceiving. So, don’t bother bringing your ski parka or snow boots when you come to Ireland! As a rule of thumb, the locals would say that Ireland weather is mild, but unpredictable.

2. One Outfit Per Day Isn’t Enough…

One of the most important things to remember when packing for an Ireland vacation is that the weather is extremely unpredictable. I’m talking about a beautiful sunrise and clear skies at 7 A.M., dark, cloudy rain showers at noon, and sunny skies again by 3 P.M…that kind of unpredictable. This is common for Ireland weather, so be prepared. My best piece of advice would be to plan on layering your clothes. That way, if it rains unexpectedly while you’re out, you can just take off your wet top layer (a sweater, for example)…and you’ll still be wearing dry clothes. Concerned about getting caught in a downpour that soaks you to the skin?