Packing for Ireland: What the Weather Actually Does Year-Round

Ireland's weather is rarely extreme. It is mild, changeable and often damp, and a single day can bring sunshine, a shower and wind within the same hour. The trick is not packing for the worst, but packing in layers.

What to expect, season by season

Spring (March to May)

Cool and bright, with lengthening days. Showers are frequent but usually short. Daytime temperatures typically sit in the low to mid teens Celsius by May.

Summer (June to August)

Mild rather than hot, usually in the mid to high teens, occasionally above twenty. The real gift of summer is the light: around midsummer it stays bright in Dublin until around ten in the evening.

Autumn (September to November)

September is often settled and pleasant. From October the weather gets wetter and windier, especially on the Atlantic coast.

Winter (December to February)

Cold rather than freezing, with daytime temperatures usually in single figures. Snow is uncommon in the cities. The days are short: around midwinter the sun sets in Dublin at about four in the afternoon.

What to pack

A waterproof jacket with a hood. More useful than an umbrella, which the wind on the coast will turn inside out.
Layers: a t-shirt, a light jumper or fleece, and the jacket on top, whatever the season.
Comfortable shoes with a decent grip for wet paths, at the Cliffs of Moher or in Glendalough.
Something warm for the evenings, even in summer.
Sunglasses and sunscreen from spring to autumn. The sun does come out, often between showers.

On a day tour

On a private tour your bags stay in the vehicle all day, so bring the extra layer. On the west coast the wind at the cliffs can be much stronger than in Dublin that morning. Your guide checks the forecast and, because every tour is customisable, can change the order of the day to give you the best of the weather.