We leave this Thursday for a 10-day driving trip in western Ireland. The weather report looks bleak: low 60s, showers, and not a speck of sun in it. I was warned of the weather, and I accept that we'll miss out on a lot of lovely vistas. But is such weather likely to suck all the joy out of the natural beauty of the place? Going to Dingle, Inishmore, An Spiddal and County Clare sights.
Trying to stay upbeat.
Thanks,
June
June,
We willingly chose to travel twice to Ireland in February. It was cold (think 40s-50s F) and rainy, and got dark early, but we had a fantastic time. You'll do better with the temperatures and daylight, and you'll have breaks in the weather. Just dress in layers, with a good waterproof outer layer, and don't worry about the rain! The country is still beautiful, the people are wonderful and you will have a fantastic time. I love Ireland!
Celeste
I'd expect the weather to be quite variable, not uniformly gray. Forecast for Galway includes hopeful terms like "partly cloudy" and "a.m. showers/p.m. sun."
I've never found rain to deter from the beauty of Ireland. Or England or Scotland for that matter. Especially since it's usually light rain and not downpours. Dress for the weather and I am sure you'll be able to take in all the joy.
June, the weather in Ireland can change quickly and often, sometimes "better" sometimes "worse". Your profile does not indicate where you live, but I can say that coming from Southern California, we were quite happy for the weather, the clouds in the sky, and the great photo (and tea) opportunities it presented. We were there for one week in the month of September a couple years ago, the most rain we had was in Dublin and it lasted about two hours. For the days you indicate, weather.com shows a 20-50% chance of rain-some rain. It rains a lot there, but it doesn't mean it's going to rain all day, and probably won't. You'll have a great time, do let us know about your trip when you are back.
To answer your question, I say no, it will enhance the beauty.
Thank you all for your wonderfully positive replies!
I'm from New England, so I know lousy weather and I know changeable weather. As a late-to-the-game gardener I have learned to see the beauty of the rain. I've done my research and we'll be properly clothed and shod.
I'm so glad to hear I was worrying for nothing.
Again, many, many thanks for cheering me up!
June
The moment you see how green and gorgeous the Emerald Isle is you'll be upbeat.
Please keep in ind that the standard line about weather in Ireland is something to the effect of 300 days with rain every year, and 300 days with sun.
The fabulous scenery and beauty in the West where you'll be traveling will far outweigh any bummer effect the rains may bring. On top of all those shades of green, look for the occasional rainbow to enhance your enjoyment of the countryside.
More positive feedback about the weather! Now I'm sure we'll have a great time, rain or shine, and anything in between.
Thanks again, fellow travelers.
June
