The weather in Ireland in January is cold, wet and firmly wintery, with short days and conditions that can change quickly. Average daytime temperatures sit around 8°C, dropping to about 3°C at night.
And, while the weather in Ireland is generally fairly unpredictable, January in Ireland is usually cold, wet and windy.
While it’s the off-season for tourism and not ideal weather-wise, lower prices and fewer crowds can make January appealing if you plan carefully and allow for indoor backup options.
Some quick info about the weather in Ireland in January
OK, let’s get you up-to-speed nice and quickly. The points below will give you a quick insight into the weather in Ireland in January:
1. The season
December, January and February are the winter months in Ireland. This is the ‘off season’ in terms of tourist numbers.
2. The weather in general
The weather in Ireland in January tends to be cold, wet and windy (detailed info below). It definitely isn’t the best month to visit Ireland weather-wise, but it’ll suit those of you doing Ireland on a budget as flights and accommodation prices will be lower.
3. Average temperatures
The average temperature in Ireland in January sees average highs of average highs of 8°C/46°F and average lows of 3°C/32°F
4. Short days
One of the biggest disadvantages of January is the short days. At the beginning of the month the sun rises from 08:29 and sets from 16:38. This means you’ll need to be careful when planning your Ireland itinerary.
5. Still lots to do
Although the weather in Ireland in January isn’t great, there’s still plenty of things to do in Ireland during this month. You just need to have ‘Plan Bs’ in your back pocket in the event that there’s rain.
The average temperature in Ireland in January
The average temperature in Ireland in January sees avg. highs of 18°C/64°F and avg. lows of 11°C/52°F.
This’ll likely be mild for those of you from cool climates and chilly for those of you from warmer climates.
The average temperature in Ireland in January varies, so I’m going to stick in a chart that compares recent years from Ireland’s different weather stations.
Please note that all of the Ireland in January weather data is via Met Eireann (the Irish Meteorological Service).
A comparison of January weather in Ireland in recent years
| County | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 4.3°C/39.74°F | 5.0°C/41.00°F | 6.0°C/42.80°F |
| Galway | 6.5°C/43.70°F | 6.4°C/43.52°F | 7.2°C/44.96°F |
| Cork | 5.4°C/41.72°F | 4.8°C/40.64°F | 6.1°C/42.98°F |
| Kerry | 7.1°C/44.78°F | 6.3°C/43.34°F | 7.7°C/45.86°F |
The table above will give you a quick insight into the average temperature in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Kerry over the last three years.
As you can see, the average temperature in Ireland in January is fairly steady across the different years and in the various counties.
Rainfall in Ireland in January (measured in mm)
| County | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 14.4 | 115.1 | 36.0 |
| Galway | 56.9 | 167.3 | 118.7 |
| Cork | 32.5 | 117.8 | 88.7 |
| Kerry | 74.6 | 152.8 | 146.3 |
We get asked ‘Does in rain in Ireland in January?’ a lot. The answer is yes, yes it does (see our guide on what to wear in Ireland in January).
Rainfall in Ireland in January tends to be considerably higher than in many other months of the year.
It’s important to mention that specific regions of Ireland, typically the west coast, receive a greater amount of rainfall compared to the east coast.
Weather in Dublin in January
Photos via Shutterstock
The weather in Dublin in January is pretty similar to the weather in many other parts of the country. In January 2025, Ireland recorded an average national temperature of 5.4°C, which was slightly below the long-term average.
Rainfall varied sharply by region, with much drier conditions in the north and northwest and significantly wetter weather in the south and east.
Dublin Airport recorded a mean temperature of 4.3°C, while January also saw periods of snow, widespread frost, and record-breaking winds during Storm Éowyn, which caused disruption nationwide.
Learn more about visiting the capital during this month in our guide to Dublin in January.
FAQs about the weather in Ireland in January
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Does it snow in Ireland in January?’ to ‘Is Ireland January weather always wet?’.
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.
What is Ireland’s weather like in January?
The weather in Ireland in January tends to be cold, wet and windy. Temperature wise, Ireland gets average highs of 8°C/46°F and average lows of 3°C/32°F in January.
Does it snow in Ireland in January?
The first two months of the year are when snow falls most frequently in Ireland. It’s common to have snow every January on elevated areas. However, it can be rare to get snow in towns and cities.
What is the coldest month in Ireland?
January and February are the coldest months of the year in Ireland. In January, there are average highs of 8°C/46°F and average lows of 3°C/32°F.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.