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When to go · Ireland

Ireland in May

Great month. Often the driest, sunniest month; Skellig trips start mid-May.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Ireland
Prices
Medium
Ireland

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Ireland

Often the driest, sunniest month; Skellig trips start mid-May.

Is another month better than May?

No other month rates higher than May for Ireland in this guide.

Weather in May

  • Dublin and the east · Dublin, Wicklow, Boyne Valley, Kilkennybest weather

    Driest part of the country; mild all year, rarely above 25 °C (77 °F) or below freezing.

  • West coast · Galway, Connemara, Clare, Mayo, Donegalbest weather

    Rain on most days, rarely all day; Atlantic storms in winter close cliff paths and island ferries.

  • South-west · Kerry, Dingle, West Corkbest weather

    Mildest winters (sub-tropical gardens) but high rainfall; the Ring of Kerry fills with coaches in July–August.

  • Aran Islands: Aran Islands · all three islands, Atlantic exposurebest weather

    May to September is the reliable window; summer ferries are most frequent then. Rain and wind arrive year round and can cancel sailings or flights.

  • Burren: Burren coast and plateau · Ballyvaughan, Doolin, Carran, Kilfenorabest weather

    Atlantic weather: rain in any month, wind on the coast, and the plateau can be several degrees colder than Ennis. May to June and September give the best odds; July and August are busiest and wettest.

  • East Coast and Midlands: Dublin and the east coast · Dublin, Louth, Wicklow coastbest weather

    Mild and changeable year-round; rain any month. May–June and September give the best odds of dry days.

  • East Coast and Midlands: Midlands · Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Longfordbest weather

    Colder and wetter than the coast in winter; bog and canal paths can be muddy after rain.

  • Northwest Ireland and Lakelands: Donegal and Sligo coast · Atlantic west and northwestbest weather

    Wettest and windiest part of the region; rain arrives on any month, so pack a shell.

  • Northwest Ireland and Lakelands: Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim · Inland lakelandsbest weather

    Slightly drier and calmer inland; lakes and waterways are best May to September.

  • Shannon Region: Shannon Region · Clare, Limerick, Tipperary lowlandsbest weather

    Atlantic weather: rain any month, mild winters, cool summers. May–Sep gives the longest days and the best odds; the Cliffs of Moher are often in cloud, so keep a spare day.

  • Southeast Ireland: Southeast lowlands · Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexfordbest weather

    Drier and sunnier than the west; May–June and September are the picks. Beaches are busiest in July–August.

  • Southwest Ireland: Cork city and east · harbour and lowlandsbest weather

    Mild and wet year-round; rain arrives in bands, so a dry morning can turn by 14:00.

  • Southwest Ireland: Kerry mountains and peninsulas · Killarney, Dingle, Iveraghbest weather

    Wetter and windier than Cork; mist can drop on Mount Brandon and the passes within an hour.

  • West Ireland: Galway and the coast · Atlantic seaboardbest weather

    Rain year-round; May–September is mildest and driest, around 15–19 °C (59–66 °F). Winter days are short and windy.

  • West Ireland: Inland Mayo and Roscommon · Lakes and lowlandbest weather

    Slightly colder and calmer than the coast; fog on lake roads in autumn mornings.

  • Dublin15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Abbeyleix15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Adare16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Annascaul15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days
  • Ardmore, County Waterford16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Arklow16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Arranmore14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Ashbourne15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Athenry16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Athlone16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Athy16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Bagenalstown16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Bailieborough15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Balbriggan15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Ballina15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Ballymahon16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Ballymote15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Ballyshannon15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Ballyvaughan16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days
  • Baltimore15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Banagher16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Bantry16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days
  • Belturbet15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Birr16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Blarney16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Blessington15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Booterstown16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Borris16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Boyle16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Bray15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Buncrana15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Bunratty16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days
  • Caherciveen16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Cahir16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Carlow16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Carndonagh15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Carraroe16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days
  • Carrick-on-Shannon16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Carrickmacross15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Cashel16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Castlebar15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 15 rain days
  • Castlecomer16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Castletownbere15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days
  • Castletownshend15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days
  • Cavan15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 14 rain days
  • Clara16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Clifden16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Cloghane15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Clogherhead15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Clonakilty15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Clones15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days
  • Clonmacnoise16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Clonmel16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Cobh15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Cong16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Cork16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Crosshaven16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dalkey16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dingle15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Donegal Town15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Doolin16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Drogheda15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Drumshanbo15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 15 rain days
  • Dún Laoghaire16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dundalk15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Dungarvan16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Dungloe15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Dunmore East16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Edenderry16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Ennis16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Enniscorthy16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 14 rain days
  • Enniscrone15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Enniskerry15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Falcarragh15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Fethard-on-Sea16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Fethard16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Foynes16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Freshford16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Galway14.8 °C (59 °F) / 8.3 °C (47 °F), 15 rain days
  • Glencolmcille15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Glendalough15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Glengarriff16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Glenties15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Gorey15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Gort16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Graignamanagh16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Howth15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Inis Meáin16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Inis Oírr16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days
  • Inishbofin Island14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Kells15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kenmare16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Kildare15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kilkee15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Kilkenny16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Killaloe16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Killarney16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Killorglin15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Kilmallock16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Kilmore Quay16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kinnitty15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 14 rain days
  • Kinsale15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Knock16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Lahinch16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Leenane15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Leighlinbridge16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Letterfrack15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Letterkenny15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 15 rain days
  • Lifford16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Limerick16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Lismore16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Listowel16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Longford16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Macroom16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Malahide15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mallow16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Manorhamilton15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 15 rain days
  • Maynooth16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Milltown Malbay16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Monaghan15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 14 rain days
  • Mountmellick15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mountrath16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mullingar15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Naas16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Navan16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Nenagh16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • New Ross16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Newport, County Mayo15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Oldcastle15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Omey Island15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Oranmore16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Oughterard16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Portarlington15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days
  • Portlaoise15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Portmagee15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Portumna16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Roscommon16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 14 rain days
  • Roscrea16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Rosses Point15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Rosslare15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Roundwood15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Shannon16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Skibbereen15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Slane15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Sligo15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Spiddal16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Strandhill15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Swords15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Thomastown16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Thurles16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 11 rain days
  • Tipperary16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Tory Island13 °C (55 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Tralee16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days
  • Tramore16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Trim15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 16 rain days
  • Tuam16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 14 rain days
  • Tullamore16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Tullow16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Virginia16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Waterford16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Westport15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Wexford15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Wicklow15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Youghal16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Bank holidays

    First Monday of May, June and August

    Long weekends: west coast and Dublin hotels fill.

  • May bank holiday

    First Monday of May · Dublin

    A long weekend: shops close, trains and buses run on a Sunday timetable.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Ireland
Medium
Prices · Ireland
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Ireland, side by side.

  • Verdict

    May: Great

    Jun: Great

  • Crowds

    May: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Prices

    May: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Festivals listed

    May: 2

    Jun: 3

May: Often the driest, sunniest month; Skellig trips start mid-May.

June: Longest days; the best month for the west before school holidays.

Ireland: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in May

Rated best or good this month

  • Dublin and the east

    Best weather of the year (Dublin, Wicklow, Boyne Valley, Kilkenny)

  • West coast

    Best weather of the year (Galway, Connemara, Clare, Mayo, Donegal)

  • South-west

    Best weather of the year (Kerry, Dingle, West Cork)

  • Dublin

    One of the driest, brightest months.

  • Abbeyleix

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Adare

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Annascaul

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Ardmore, County Waterford

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Arklow

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Arranmore

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Ashbourne

    Best months: May–Sep for Emerald Park and race days; the town works year-round

  • Athenry

    Best months: May–Sep