Ireland in November?

I went to Ireland in November 2002 and visited in October 1997.

The cold and dark can be issues. Because I'm from a cold-weather area, winter is generally not an issue for me, but it did have an impact on my visits. Some sites in the rural west of Ireland had limited hours or were closed outright. The boats might not be going out to Aran, but I'd check the websites. However, there's a benefit to travel in November: Cities are alive. Dublin was just as fun in November as it is in the summer. I remember seeing a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Gate Theater. I also remember an Evensong gathering at Christ Church Cathedral. The museums were better to go to in the winter than the summer because the city hosted fewer visitors.

Was there in November of 2013. Both Eire and Northern Ireland.

Looking at my photos I’m seeing both cloudy and blue skies. Do not recall any heavy rainfall but remember occasional morning sprinkles, then sunshine and rainbows. Most of my time was in Belfast visiting a friend on the Game of Thrones sets.

Wore jeans, Columbia waterproofed jacket, lightweight turtle necks, and low cut Keen hiking boots. Also had leather gloves and a slouchie.

Suspect you’ve experienced far colder Novembers in your home state than you’ll experience in Ireland.

Pack accordingly

I was in Dublin after Xmas, and it was less the cold than the damp. I had come from Paris, where it was colder but dry, and it felt colder in Ireland. Not Minnesota cold, of course.
I don't know how realistic the Aran Islands are for a one-week trip any time of year, though. In November, I'd focus on the museums and the pubs.

The weather in Ireland in November can be very gloomy and it gets dark early. However, the sites are amazing as are the people. I would advise staying in the bigger cites and bringing lots of rain gear and warm clothes.

Heading over to Galway and the Aran Islands (or to any of the Gaeltacht region which is mostly north of Galway) is hardly a "dip". With only a week or so in Ireland I'd skip the west. There's plenty to see in Dublin and Belfast (the Titanic Museum is an absolute must!!). Save the west for a future visit.

Mike