Ireland In March: Weather, Tips + Things To Do

Visiting Ireland in March has plenty of pros and cons (and I’m basing this on living here for 35 years!).

The weather in Ireland in March starts to improve with the transition from winter to spring. It remains relatively cold with average highs of 10°C/50°F and lows of 4.4°C/39.92°F. 

Rain and wind are common as are bright days with around 11 hours of sunshine per day. In Dublin, the long term average temperature in March is 6.7°C/44.06°F.

There are plenty of things to do in Ireland in March, as you’ll discover below (especially if you’re visiting for St. Patrick’s Day).

Some quick need-to-knows about visiting Ireland in March

Although it’s not the best time to visit Ireland, March has an awful lot going for it. Get up-to-speed nice and fast with the points below:

1. The weather

The weather in Ireland in March can be very unpredictable – in the past, we’ve had heavy snowfall, balmy weather and intense rainfall. However, pack and plan your trip accordingly and you’ll be ready for anything.

2. Average temperatures

The average temperature in Ireland in March hovers at around 6.2°C/43.16°F.  Ireland gets average highs of 10°C/50°F and average lows of 4.4°C/39.92°F.

3. Longer days

March marks the beginning of spring in Ireland. The sun rises between 07:12 (start of month) and 06:13 (end of month) and sets at 18:17 (start of month) and 18:49 (end of month). This makes mapping out your Ireland itinerary a little easier, as you’ve a nice bit of daylight to play with.

4. It’s the ‘Shoulder-Season’

 March in Ireland is the beginning of the ‘Shoulder-Season’, which is the period of time between the off-peak and peak seasons. While accommodation prices won’t be as low as January and February, they won’t be near peak-season just yet.

5. St Patrick’s Day + events

While there’s an almost endless number of things to do in Ireland in March, it’s St Patrick’s Day that tends to draw the crowds. You’ll find various festivals in Ireland on and in the lead up to ‘Paddy’s Day’ in many towns and villages in Ireland.

The pros and cons of spending March in Ireland

The most common query that we get from people planning a trip to Ireland revolves around the pros and cons of visiting in X, Y or Z month.

For many, the weather in Ireland can play a big part in the overall success of their trip. Below, you’ll find a handful pros and cons of visiting Ireland in March:

The advantages

• Prices: If you’re visiting Ireland on a budget, March tends to be the last month of reduced prices (around St. Patrick’s Day is the exception)
• Weather: March brings with it the start of spring which, for the most part (not always…), results in better weather
• Longer days: The sun rises between 07:12 (start of month) and 06:13 (end of month) and sets at 18:17 (start of month) and 18:49 (end of month)
• Crowds: Ireland’s usually busy attractions will less crowded (the likes of the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry will always draw the crowds, though)

The disadvantages

• Weather: Yep, the weather is an advantage and a disadvantage, as you’ll see in our weather section below
• Flights: Flight prices in March tend to be pricer than the previous two months

The weather in Ireland in March in different parts of the country

The weather in Ireland in March varies a lot. Below, we’ll provide you with an insight into the weather in Kerry, Belfast, Galway and Dublin in March.

Note: The rainfall figures and the average temperatures have been taken from the Irish Meteorological Service and the UK Met Office to ensure accuracy:

Dublin

The weather in Dublin in March tends to be milder than previous months, but with just as much rain. The long-term average temperature in Dublin in March is 6.7°C/44.06°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Dublin in March is 52.6 millimetres.

Belfast

The weather in Belfast in March is, on average, historically worse than Dublin.  The average temperature in Belfast in March is 6°C/42.8°F.  Average rainfall levels sit at 71.37 millimetres.

Galway

The weather in the west of Ireland in March tends to be wetter than the east. The long-term average temperature in Galway in March is 7.1°C/44.78°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Galway in March is 94.7 millimetres.

Kerry

The weather in Kerry in March is similar to the three above. The long-term average temperature in Kerry in March is 8.1°C/46.58°F.  The long-term average rainfall level for Kerry in March is 123.8 millimetres.

Things to do in Ireland in March

This month starts the ‘Shoulder-Season’, which is the period of time between the peak-season and the off-season. Translation: there’s endless things to do in Ireland in March 

If you’re in search of things to do in Ireland in March, jump into our counties in Ireland section – it’s wedged with the best places to visit in every county! Here are a handful of suggestions to get you going:

1. Set off on a well planned road trip

As the days are longer in March, you have more time to explore. However, you still need to map our your Ireland itinerary properly.

The easiest way to do this is to follow a guide – we have the world’s biggest library of Irish road trip itineraries, each of which is 100% free.

Our 5 days in Ireland and our 7 days in Ireland guides tend to be the most popular!

2. Have back-up plans at the ready

Although March marks the beginning of spring in Ireland, the weather can still be unpredictable, so it’s worth being aware of indoor attractions near where you’re visiting, just in case.

If you hop into our counties of Ireland hub, you’ll find guides to each county. Each section is packed with both indoor and outdoor attractions.

3. Spend dry days hiking and walking

If you like to explore on foot, you’re in for a treat – there’s endless walks in Ireland, with a mix of hard and handy trails to tackle, depending on your fitness levels.

Hikes can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours+, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. Find walks in the county you’re visiting right here.

4. And wet nights in a cosy pub

It’s hard to beat a wet and windy night spent in one of the many traditional pubs in Ireland, like the one above (Kavanagh’s in Dublin).

When you can, try and opt for the more traditional/old schools pubs, as these ones tend to have the most charm and character.

5. Visiting Dublin in March

There’s loads things to do in Dublin in March. If the weather’s good, head off on one of the many walks in Dublin.

If the weathers crap, there’s plenty of things to do in Dublin in March when it’s pouring down, from castles and incredible food to quirky museums and more.

See our 2 days in Dublin and 24 hours in Dublin guides for an easy-to-follow itinerary.

What to wear in Ireland in March

So, we’ve a handy guide on what to wear in Ireland in March, but we’ll give you the quick need-to-knows below.

March can bring warm and breezy spring days, but if northeast winds dominate, you’ll need to prepare for more bitter temperatures (and possibly even snow).

Pack light layers (long-sleeve t-shirts, hoodies, etc) that you can throw on if it’s cold and remove if it’s warm, along with a water-proof jacket. Here are some other suggestions:

• Hiking boots (or shoes)
• A waterproof jacket
• An umbrella
• Waterproof trousers/pants if you’re planning on doing walking/hiking
• A warm hat, scarf, and gloves
• Plenty of warm socks (there’s nothing worse than walking around in damp socks!)

Debating visiting during another month?

Picking when to visit Ireland is tricky, there’s no two ways about it. It’s worth spending some time comparing what it’s like in Ireland during the other months, when you have a second:

• Ireland in January
• Ireland in February
• Ireland in April
• Ireland in May
• Ireland in June
• Ireland in July
• Ireland in August
• Ireland in September
• Ireland in October
• Ireland in November
• Ireland in December

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are the best things to do in Dublin in March?’ to ‘Does it snow in Ireland in March?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.