Summer in Ireland: A Locals 2024 Guide

Visiting Ireland in the summer (when the weather’s good…) is hard to beat!

The days are long (from the start of June the sun rises at 05:03 and sets at 21:42), the weather in Ireland in the summer is generally OK (not always!) and we sometimes get an odd heatwave.

With that being said, there’s pros and cons to the summer months in Ireland, with flight and hotels prices higher and crowds at most popular attractions.

In the guide below, you’ll find an overview of the weather, what to expect along with things to do in Ireland in Summer.

Some quick need-to-knows about summer in Ireland

Although visiting Ireland in the summer is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. When is summer in Ireland

The summer months in Ireland are June, July and August. These are the peak months for tourism across the island.

2. Irish summer weather

The weather in Ireland in summer varies from year to year. In June in Ireland we have average highs of 18°C and lows of 11.6°C. In Ireland in July we get average highs of 19°C and lows around 12°C. In Ireland in August we get average highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C.

3. Summer is peak season

Summer is peak season in Ireland, so crowds are at their highest. You’ll see this most notably in the more popular towns and villages in Ireland, and at the more popular attractions in Ireland, like the Cliffs of Moher and in Killarney.

4. Lovely long days

One of the benefits of spending summer in Ireland is the daylight. In June, the sun rises from 05:03 and sets at 21:42. In July, the sun rises from 05:01 and sets at 21:56. In August, the sun rises from 05:41 and it sets at 21:20. This makes planning your Ireland itinerary much easier.

5. Plenty to do

The long days and the generally better weather means there’s plenty of things to do in Ireland in Summer. From hikes and walks to beaches, tours and more, there’s lots to choose from (see below).

An overview of the average temperature during the summer months in Ireland

Destination	Jun	Jul	Aug
Killarney	13.5 °C/56.3 °F	14.9 °C/58.7 °F	14.5 °C/58.2 °F
Dublin	13.5 °C/56.4 °F	15.2 °C/59.3 °F	14.8 °C/58.6 °F
Cobh	15.4 °C/59.7 °F	15.6 °C/60.1 °F	15.4 °C/59.7 °F
Galway	14 °C/57.2 °F	15.3 °C/59.5 °F	15 °C/58.9 °F

In the table above, you’ll get a sense of the average temperature in Ireland in summer in several different locations, to give you a sense of what to expect. The one thing that I want to stress is that the weather in Ireland in summer is unpredictable.

So, if you’re planning a trip to Ireland, don’t just assume you’ll be guaranteed warm weather and sunshine. To give you a better sense of what to expect, I’ll give you an overview of what the weather has been like during June, July and August in previous years.

The pros and cons of visiting Ireland in the summer

If you read our guide to the best time to visit Ireland, you’ll know that there’s pros and cons to visiting Ireland during every season of the year.

Below, you’ll find some pros and cons of spending summer in Ireland, from someone that’s spent the last 32 summers here:

The pros 

• Weather: The average high temperature in Ireland in summer hovers around 18°C
• Long days: The days are lovely and long, with the sun rising between at between 5 and 6 and setting between 9 and 10
• Summer buzz: Long, warm days tends to bring tourists and atmosphere to many towns, villages and cities

The cons

• Prices: The summer months in Ireland are peak season, so flights and accommodation are at their highest
• Crowds: The summer months draws the crowds, especially to tourist hot-spots, like the Ring of Kerry and the Antrim coast

Things to do in Ireland in summer

There’s endless things to do in Ireland in summer thanks to the long days and the generally better weather. Although beaches are the obvious choice, there’s plenty more summer activities to squeeze into your Ireland itinerary.

I’ll give you some suggestions below, but if you hop into our counties hub you’ll be able to find places to visit in each individual county.

1. Hikes and walks

There’s some mighty walks in Ireland and the early sunrise means you can tackle a trail before the crowds flock to it later in the day.

You also have a better chance of getting a nice, clear day to soak up the views. Just make sure to pack water and suncream!

2. Beaches galore

There’s plenty of beaches in Ireland to flock to during the summer months. Now, with schools off for the holidays and crowds at their peak, many can get overcrowded.

However, each coastal county tends to have one or two beaches that people tend to miss, so keep an eye out when planning your trip. ALWAYS use caution when entering the water and never do so if you’re uncertain.

3. Festivals

Plenty of festivals in Ireland take place during the summer months in Ireland. If you’re looking for live music, there’s everything from concerts to full blown music festivals, like Sea Sessions in Donegal.

There’s also some unique festivals, like the Puck Festival in Kerry and the Galway Arts Festival, to name a few.

4. Endless more attractions

Summer in Ireland is the perfect time to explore. If you’re not sure of what to see or do, hop into our counties of Ireland hub and just click into the place you’re visiting.

You’ll find everything from unique places to visit to some of the more well-trodden tourist trails.

FAQs about spending summer in Ireland

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is it hot in Ireland in the summer?’ to ‘When is summertime in Ireland?’.

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.