Is September too late for Ireland?

Here's what you'll miss by going in late September - big crowds, higher airfares, booked lodging - you get the point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going in late September - in fact, we went (twice) in late March/early April for the same reasons. I would be happy in Ireland any time of year, actually. Weather is always iffy, so be prepared. And I strongly suggest you fly into Shannon if you are renting a car, do the west coast first, then work towards Dublin. (You do NOT want to drive in Dublin.). Shannon is an easy place to get acclimated to driving in Ireland. Look for a couple of central locations you can day trip from so you're not constantly on the move. And start making your plans - without any reservations. Have a great trip!

The little towns will still be "open" in September. Some B&Bs close down in the true winter months but September is still solidly in the "shoulder season." You will really only notice the lack of crowds and softer prices at B&Bs. The one issue that impacts you when you get into the winter months are the shorter days. In the summer you can get 17 or more hours of daylight. In September you will still have around 12 hours of daylight. Wait until December and you may have less than 8.

We traveled Ireland at almost your exact dates 18 months ago & had a great time & fairly good weather, just a bit of rain. There is a big oyster festival in Galway @ the end of Sept & it is crowded, since all the pubs are giving away oysters. We didn't have any reservations so we just moved up the coast a bit. There is also a matchmaker festival in Lisdoonvarna, where everyone is wandering the street. it was amusing. we headed farther south to Liscannor & stumbled on a great B&B, Vaughn's Anchor Inn. great food & cozy room. the pub next door was packed with people & music. We only made reservations for a room in Dublin, Dingle & our first night, we drove from Dublin airport to Trim. you'll have a great time.

We traveled to Ireland Sept 26-Oct 9, back in 2006. We had great weather until the last 2 days, then it rained sideways! I would say go for it! We were also there last year March 24-April 9, and again great weather....50's and 60's with only one day of wind with int. showers. Also went the first 2 weeks of Aug and while there were lots of people in the towns, NW Ireland is not as busy as the rest of Ireland during high season. We definitely enjoyed the shoulder season more, and the temps weren't that much warmer in Aug! Dan

Go! Everyone is right. Fewer crowds, lower prices, and a more "locals only" (though there will still be other tourists) experience. Smaller towns will still be chugging along as per usual - the few B&Bs that close in the winter won't be closed yet, and everything else should still be open. You will miss any big summer festivals that might have happened in June/July, but IMHO that's no huge loss. Weather can ALWAYS be rainy/misty/gusty in Ireland - that's why it's the Emerald Isle!

You aren't going to have any trouble in small towns in September/early Oct. My family lives in a village (too small to be called a "town") over near The Burren. There are 2 B&B's in the village, a small family run hotel, a hostel and 12 pubs. All of them are open for business well into the Fall and early winter - some stay open all year. Weather can be dicey at any point during the year and it can change on a dime and you could feel like you are experiencing all 4 seasons in one day. This can happen even in July or August. It can get particularly windy and chilly if you are traveling around coastal areas - just be prepared with layers (long & short sleeve shirts, sweaters or fleece zip ups) and a decent coat (the kind that has zip out linings for when it's warmer) and waterproof shoes or boots. If you haven't already booked airfare and you hope to cover both the West and the Dublin area, get open jaw flights and I also second the suggestion to fly into Shannon first, get the rental car and ditch it before you get to Dublin. You won't need a car or want to deal with the traffic or parking in Dublin. Bus Eireann can get you to Dublin from pretty much any small town in Ireland (or if you end your trip out west in Galway you can also take the train straight into Dublin).

I went to Ireland a few year ago in January and had a great time! The weather is always iffy so I chose to save money and take my chances. The farther away you are from the tourist peak season the more enjoyable it usually is.