Rock of Cashel, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
WINTER WARMTH IN IRELAND
Nestled between Christmas season and St. Patrick’s Day, the winter months in Ireland are full of magic, comfort and delight for intrepid travelers.
The winters are rarely extreme, with an average temperature between 40 and 46 degrees, and don’t be surprised to wake up to clear blue skies and sunshine. When Ireland is occasionally blanketed with the purest of snow, it only makes the landscape more evocative and alluring.
Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo
In winter, you’ll have plenty of room to roam, and time to explore the same charms that Ireland offers year round, from cozy pubs and lively music sessions to tasty cuisine and miles of breathless landscapes and seascapes. Here are suggestions to get you going.
Mount Errigal, Co. Donegal
Let’s start with the winter beauty of Ireland. Shorter days and longer evenings mean incredible sunsets up and down the coast. Try these spots for a memorable Irish sunset or discover your own! Along the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, check out Murlough Beach in Co. Down, and in nearby Co. Antrim, Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, and the Dark Hedges. Along the Wild Atlantic Way, see the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare and Lough Gur in Co. Limerick. In Dublin, the view from Howth north of the city is stunning.
Una Powell Pub, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Bushmills Inn, Bushmills, Co. Antrim
If your ideal cozy winter day is going to a pub, having a glass of whiskey or a pint of stout with home-cooked traditional meals, while enjoying a warm fire with live traditional music, then Ireland is the place for you! There are hundreds of Irish traditional music sessions nightly in Ireland. Some of our favorite sessions are at O’Flaherty’s Pub in Dingle, Co. Kerry; McCann’s Pub in Doolin, Co. Clare; the Crane Bar in Galway City; and O’ Donoghue’s Pub on Merrion Row in Dublin.
Tig Cóilí Pub, Galway
For a full course of excellent music, check out the annual TradFest in Dublin, on January 24-28, 2024, where the world’s best traditional musicians and singers converge. This year’s broad lineup includes singer Janis Ian, uilleann piper Paddy Keenan, American banjo star Alison Brown, Galician piper Carlos Nuñez and more!
Johnnie Fox's Pub, Glencullen, Co. Dublin
For distinctive Irish food experiences, try the Saltwater Brig, a country style pub and restaurant nestled in Kircubbin, Co. Down on the shores of Strangford Lough. In Dublin, visit Sinnott’s Bar near St. Stephen’s Green on South King Street. Dating back to the 18th century, Sinnott’s has a full Irish menu with breakfast, lunch and dinner. MacNean House and Restaurant in Blacklion, Co. Cavan, run by Chef Neven Maguire and his wife Amelda, offers an award-winning menu, including great vegetarian dishes. Farmgate Café in Cork City offers a relaxed atmosphere in Ireland’s oldest covered food market, for over 25 years, sourcing the freshest ingredients from the Food Stalls of the English Market, and with small-scale market gardeners.
Trad Fest, Temple Bar, Dublin
Wherever you go in Ireland, you’ll find beauty and warmth - even in winter!