Ireland In October: Weather, Tips + Things To Do

Visiting Ireland in October is a great shout, once you’re aware of the pros and cons.

I’ve lived in Ireland for 33 years and, in my opinion, October is one of the best times to travel to Ireland.

With average highs of 13°C/55°F and average lows of 6°C/42°F, the weather in Ireland in October is generally cool and crisp and the days still have plenty of daylight.

Below, you’ll discover everything from things to do in Ireland in October, the various festivals running this month and much more.

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Ireland in October

Although a visiting Ireland in October is reasonably straightforward, there are a handful of need-to-knows that’ll get you up-to-speed quickly.

Below, you’ll find info on the weather in Ireland during this month along with some handy info.

1. The weather in Ireland in October

October in Ireland sees the days shorten and temperatures drop, with average highs of 13°C/55°F and average lows of 6°C/42°F. The air is cool and crisp, rainfall is common and the trees are covered in orange leaves.

2. Average temperatures

The average temperature in Ireland in October ranges from average highs of 13°C/55°F to average lows of 6°C/42°F.

3. Daylight

Although October is autumn in Ireland, the days are still relatively long. At the beginning of the month, the sun rises at 07:33 and sets at 19:09. That’s a solid 11 hours a day to plan your Ireland itinerary around.

4. It’s shoulder season

October is shoulder season in Ireland (i.e. the time between peak-season and off-season). This means flights should be cheaper and places will be quieter. Keep in mind that kids get a week of holidays in Ireland at the end of the month, so accommodation prices can rise around then.

5. Festivals and events

Heaps of festivals in Ireland run during October. Two of the most notable are Cork Jazz Festival and Púca Festival. However, if festivals aren’t your thing, there’s endless things to do in Ireland in October.

Fast facts: The pros and cons of October in Ireland

So, I lightly touched on the handful of advantages and disadvantages to visiting Ireland in October above, but I’ll list them out properly below.

I’ve lived in Ireland for 33 years, so the below are based on my own experience (note: you’ll find detailed info on the weather in the next section):

The pros 

• Longish days: At the beginning of the month, the sun rises at 07:33 and sets at 19:09
• It’s quieter: As we’re outside peak season, many places will be much quieter in comparison to the months previous
• Attractions open: You’ll find that some tours and attractions in Ireland close during winter – most are still running in October
• Weather: October is generally quite mild and the cool, crisp weather is nice to saunter around in
• Festivals: Numerous Halloween festivals take place (see our Irish festivals calendar for more)

The cons

• Unpredictable weather: Yep, it’s a pro and a con. In October 2017, Storm Ophelia hit Ireland, and it was the worst to hit the island in 50 years

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

The weather in Ireland in October can vary quite a bit. Below, we’ll provide you with an insight into the weather in Kerry, Belfast, Galway and Dublin in October.

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 October tends to, on average, be pretty OK. The long-term average temperature in Dublin in October is 10.3°C/50.54°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Dublin in October is 79.0 millimetres.

Belfast

The weather in Belfast in October is similar to Dublin but with more rainfall. The average temperature in Belfast in October is 10.2°C/50.36°F. Average rainfall levels sit at 95.83 millimetres.

Galway

The weather in the west of Ireland in October tends to be wet and mild. The long-term average temperature in Galway in October is 10.2°C/50.36°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Galway in October is 128.9 millimetres.

Kerry

The weather in Kerry in October tends to be mild and very wet. The long-term average temperature in Kerry in October is 11.5°C /52.7°F. The long-term average rainfall level for Kerry in October is 177.1 millimetres.

Things to do in Ireland in October

Many people spend October in Ireland as the days are warm and long and it’s just generally a nice time to zip around.

If you’re on the hunt for things to do in Ireland in October, dive into our counties of Ireland hub – it’s packed with the best places to visit in every county! Here are a handful of suggestions to get you started:

1. Head off on a well planned road trip

When planning a trip to Ireland, it’s worth spending a good chunk of time mapping out your itinerary, so that you make the most of your time.

Last year, we published hundreds of itineraries that you can follow from beginning to end (hop into our Irish road trip library).

If you’re struggling, see our Ireland itinerary guide (it’s a step-by-step process) or see our 5 days in Ireland or our 7 days in Ireland guides.

2. Cosy pubs

There’s endless pubs in Ireland, but not all are equal! If you can, try and polish off a day of exploring in a traditional pub, as these tend to have the most character.

One of my favourite things to do in Ireland in October is to spend a day hiking and an evening tucked away in a cosy pub. It’s hard to bate!

3. Scenic drives

Although the likes of the Ring of Kerry and the Causeway Coastal Route tend to attract all of the attention, there’s heaps of scenic drives in Ireland.

They’re particularly handy on those rainy days when you’re looking to keep the head dry!

4. Tracks, trails and hidden gems

If you like to explore on foot, there’s plenty of walks and hikes in Ireland that you can head off on, with something to suit most fitness levels.

There’s also endless hidden gems in Ireland, many of which are missed by those visiting for the first time.

5. Visiting Dublin in October

There’s plenty of things to do in Dublin in October. If the weather’s decent, try one of the hikes in Dublin.

If the weathers terrible, there’s plenty of things to do in Dublin in October when it’s raining!

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

What to pack / what to wear in Ireland in October

Although we’ve a detailed guide on what to wear in October in Ireland, I’ll give you the need-to-knows.

I’d recommend bringing layers (e.g. light tops) and one warm jacket/coat that you can pop on top. Here are some more suggestions:

The essentials

• A waterproof jacket (and trousers if you plan on hiking)
• Comfortable shoes to walk in
• Light layers (e.g. t-shirts, long-sleeved tops, etc).
• A hat and gloves, just in case
• Causal clothes for going out in the evening (pubs in Ireland are fairly relaxed)

Debating visiting during a different month?

Deciding when to visit Ireland can be overwhelming, so it’s worth being well informed before you hit the ‘book now’ button.

Below, you’ll find guides to each month in Ireland – they’re worth flicking through when you have a moment.

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

FAQs about spending October in Ireland

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What should I wear in Ireland in October?’ (see above) to ‘Is it rainy in Ireland in October? (it can be).

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.