Considering a last minute trip to Dingle the end of January. Anybody there at that time? Weather? Restaurants/pubs opened? POSITIVE thoughts?
Posted by
2527 posts
Assume the worst as to weather, but just sit it in pubs, listen to great music and enjoy fresh beer.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2840 posts
I positively agree with Bruce. Winters in Ireland are why they invented Guinness in the first place.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5286 posts
There'll be restaurants and pubs open, weather will be crap but that's as good a reason as any to hole up in the pubs.
Posted by
381 posts
Dingle is perfect any time of the year!
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
I live the next peninsula over, and I can tell you the weather isn't as bad in Ireland as eveyone in America seems to think. Christmas day was calm, blue and beautiful - light jacket was all that was needed..... when the sun went down, not that's another story!
There may be places closed but certainly not enough to say don't go! For example, in my small village there are 9 restaurants in the summer, and 4 in the winter. Not bad at all, for a population of about 500.
Some boatmen may have their boats in for the winter, but certainly some are still there for excursions!
The BIGGEST thing that I can say about winter in Ireland is this: it's colder INSIDE the buildings than outside, often! Stone wall, 100 year old buildings, very expensive electricity and fuel..... so I have come to realize it's not unusual to see people (Irish) with coats on INSIDE the pub, while sipping a pint. Now that I've copped on to that, I too keep a coat on in many places, and it's changed my perception of the winter!
Also - the Gulf Stream comes over from Florida and warms this coast. It was 4 degrees colder in Killarney yesterday morning; it can be 9 degrees colder in Dublin that here in winter. So -- just stay in the sunny southwest!!
Be sure to check out Milltown House as a place to stay - nothing beats a guest house with a warm welcome and a bar in the building! :-) And it's close to Dingle Distillery!
Susan
Expat living in Waterville
Posted by
2527 posts
The lack of heat in Irish pubs assures beer is at its best. Enjoy.
Posted by
317 posts
Greetings from Dingle in December! A wee bit chilly but wonderful.
Thanks to Susan for the Milltown House mention in this post, we do stay open although we try to not to be full, winter is a time to chill out and relax :)
Late January would be my recommendation.
Slainte/good health
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland tour-guide
Dingle, Derry & Dublin