Ireland in Late Feb/Early March

Posted by John (West Chester, Ohio, USA) on 03/18/10 03:07 PM

My wife and I are planning a trip to Ireland late February or early March, 2011. We have been there on two other occasions but they were both in warmer times of the year (Oct & May). This time we are renting a car and going on our own. I did drive a few days the first time we were there so I will not be completely lost. We want to travel the back roads and stop at the villages/country side the tour buses drive right thru. I have been checking on weather reports & and climate this year for comparisons. I also realize that lodging may be restricted due to some B&Bs not being open all year in some areas. As we normally do not travel in the cold weather months, I am sure there are things that I have not even begun to think about. Does anyone have any advice on things that I need to take into consideration?

Thanks

John

Posted by Ty

CA, USA

03/18/10 03:49 PM

333 posts

Be prepared for short days, sunsets around 4pm and possible icy conditions. Best to stick to the main roads as they are usually well gritted. It's also really windy.

But on the bright side, you'll have plenty of room to negotiate B&B fees and will have most of the sites to yourself.

Posted by Nancy

Bloomington, IL, USA

03/18/10 05:54 PM

9369 posts

I've made two trips in Ireland in the last week of February. On the first trip, the weather was sunny and warm-ish. Everything was green and they were mowing the grass at Newgrange. The last day of that trip it was freezing cold and Dublin had the very occasional snowflake. On my second trip, most of the week was sunny and fairly warm, there was no rain at all, and one day was sunny with a very cold wind. So, just like at home, it can be cold or it can be warm, it can be sunny or misty or windy.

I have never had a problem finding a B&B wherever I wanted to stop. You can get a directory of B&Bs at the Tourist Information offices at the airports that tell you which ones are year-round and which are not. The bonus is no crowds. We walked right up to the top of Blarney Castle, and wandered all over it with no one in our way (the first time we were there, in April, we had to wait in a long line all the way up). Some attractions might have limited days or hours, though they mostly go to summer hours by the first of March. And don't plan on visiting any gardens - they won't be very pretty in February.

Posted by Michael

Madison, WI, USA

03/23/10 12:12 AM

43 posts

Just returned from a week in Ireland (after a week in London) and while it was cool, it wasn't cold. Though they had a rough winter this year so it wasn't as green as usual.
There were some places that were not yet operating, such as boat trips from Doolin to see the cliffs by boat, or to the Aran Islands from Doolin. But I believe still operating from Rosslare(?) and bus connections to there from Galway.
Only one B&B we stopped at was closed, and it may just have been that no one was home at the moment.

I would highly suggest the Connemara area north of Galway. Lots of smaller sites to see and places to just stop along the road and take in the scenery.
Including the only Fjord in Ireland.
The Burren area is also a great place to see. There were very few people at the Cliff of Moher when were there on Friday, we stayed for sunset which really brings out the colors of the cliffs.

I think those areas are much less visited by the tour busses. We would have liked to go further north to the Sligo area, but didn't have the time for it this trip.

For weather, we had it great, a couple very light mists, and a very light rain Thursday lunch time, otherwise no rain for our two weeks. though it was cool and often windy.

I would suggest later rather than earlier just to get more daylight. And of course you could take in a St Patrick's day celebration at a smaller town as well.