Ireland in Winter?

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Vash01

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I am considering a short (one week) tour of Ireland in December, mainly because I have enough vacation for it, and it could work out costwise) that is if I dont go to GPF in Vancouver). I am wondering if it is a bad time to visit? Ireland is green, but is it green in winter or will it be all white? This tour is from Christmas to new year.

Since I still have some doubts about the GPF trip to Vancouver, and could get time off around Christmas, i am exploring this possibility. I am not worried about the cold, but will the touristy places open at that time?
 
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Can’t speak to Ireland, but when I lived there London in the winter had a really limited daylight time (and especially compared to where you are from), and was pretty much cold, cloudy and not that great weather-wise.
 
Snow in Ireland is rare, enough so that when it happens, it's kind of a wow for my friends who still live there. The coldest months are Jan and Feb, but it doesn't tend to go below freezing - it's more of a cold, damp feeling. The one thing, which others mentioned, is that it gets dark early, and the sun comes up late in the winter. I remember the sun not fully coming up until about 8:30/9am-ish. It got dark at maybe around 4pm-ish. I lived in Dublin.

As for whether or not touristy things are open, I have no idea. I don't remember anything being closed, but I was living and working there, not touristing there. You might want to get an idea of what you might want to visit, then check the hours. You can get a guide book like Lonely Planet, it lays it all out re: weather, open/closing times for things, etc.
 
GarrAarghHrumph said:
Snow in Ireland is rare, enough so that when it happens, it's kind of a wow for my friends who still live there. The coldest months are Jan and Feb, but it doesn't tend to go below freezing - it's more of a cold, damp feeling. The one thing, which others mentioned, is that it gets dark early, and the sun comes up late in the winter. I remember the sun not fully coming up until about 8:30/9am-ish. It got dark at maybe around 4pm-ish. I lived in Dublin.

As for whether or not touristy things are open, I have no idea. I don't remember anything being closed, but I was living and working there, not touristing there. You might want to get an idea of what you might want to visit, then check the hours. You can get a guide book like Lonely Planet, it lays it all out re: weather, open/closing times for things, etc.
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Thanks. About the touristy things, i will just have to trust the tour company. I am more concerned about the color- will it be green or white? Sounds like green is more likely.

I have not made a decision yet. I may just decide to go to Vancouver for the GPF and postpone Ireland. It is an attractive idea though, because of the holidays and the vacation.
 
I remember it being freakin' cold in Ireland when I was there in winter. And it's a damp cold which makes it feel even chillier. As others have said, there isn't a lot of snow, but OTOH it wasn't weather that made you want to spend long periods of time outdoors.
 
Vash01 said:
Ireland is green, but is it green in winter or will it be all white? This tour is from Christmas to new year.
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Tinami Amori said:
https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/ay_105720223.jpg
https://d2m3klzcmjgreb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/snowyyyy22.jpg
https://res.cloudinary.com/pearlshare/image/upload/v1460126845/ckrkusqqgegscrhhirpq.jpg
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/dun...brook-tall-ship-ireland-december-95963350.jpg
https://d5qsyj6vaeh11.cloudfront.net/images/whats available/ireland-stories/ireland in winter/ireland-in-winter-bg.jpg
Click to expand...

More likely to be green (or brown :shuffle: ) than white at the end of December, except on very high ground. The last White Christmas we had was in 2010. This year at the end of February and on 17 March was the first time we had any significant snowfall since 2010. Snow is very rare in winter here.

Christmas/New Year could be bright and crisp or wet and windy. Don't be relying on the Irish weather for predictability at any time of the year. :lol:
 
Vash01 said:
Thanks. About the touristy things, i will just have to trust the tour company. I am more concerned about the color- will it be green or white? Sounds like green is more likely.
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No, it will not be "green" in Ireland in Winter, even if there is not massive snow fall or freezing temperature.

Here is the weather recap for Dublin, Ireland for Dec. 2017
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/ireland/dublin/historic?month=12&year=2017
Here are fotos of the streets in Dublin during x-mas 2017
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/KM2G8A/du...day-on-henry-street-with-merchants-KM2G8A.jpg
allezfred said:
More likely to be green (or brown :shuffle: ) than white at the end of December, except on very high ground. The last White Christmas we had was in 2010. This year at the end of February and on 17 March was the first time we had any significant snowfall since 2010. Snow is very rare in winter here.

Christmas/New Year could be bright and crisp or wet and windy. Don't be relying on the Irish weather for predictability at any time of the year. :lol:
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I sure do believe it's "brown", or at least not "that green" as one seeks to see in Ireland for what it's known...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/12/eb/55/12eb551195472f0c9fbd42550d5ebec4.jpg
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/39565/green.jpg

Dunlce Castle winter: http://katedolan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dunluce-Castle.jpg

Dunlece Castle spring: https://dailyscribbling.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/irska-ireland-landscape-6_530128ddcaf43.jpg

:D
 
allezfred said:
Don't be relying on the Irish weather for predictability at any time of the year. :lol:
Click to expand...

I feel like this is the best advice of all to heed. My memory of Irish weather was not to get too attached to whatever you had at the moment (or upset about it) because it would be different in an hour anyway. People joke about that in other countries but I can't think of anywhere else I have actually experienced it.
 
Tinami Amori said:
No, it will not be "green" in Ireland in Winter, even if there is not massive snow fall or freezing temperature.

Here is the weather recap for Dublin, Ireland for Dec. 2017
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/ireland/dublin/historic?month=12&year=2017
Here are fotos of the streets in Dublin during x-mas 2017
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/KM2G8A/du...day-on-henry-street-with-merchants-KM2G8A.jpg

I sure do believe it's "brown", or at least not "that green" as one seeks to see in Ireland for what it's known...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/12/eb/55/12eb551195472f0c9fbd42550d5ebec4.jpg
https://i1.trekearth.com/photos/39565/green.jpg

Dunlce Castle winter: http://katedolan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Dunluce-Castle.jpg

Dunlece Castle spring: https://dailyscribbling.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/irska-ireland-landscape-6_530128ddcaf43.jpg

:D
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Hi Titanic Aroma,

I know you have said mean things to me in the passed on this web sight. I don't want to come across as mean, I have heard that one of the mod's hear is from Ireland and probbly knows about Ireland with-out having to google links about it.

For say, if someone on the internet asked where the most fun place in central New Mexico is, I would not want someone from the Bay Area (haven for alternative lifestyles, ect.) to google "gay times in NM" and post they're links when my wife and I could tell them.

So I am sorry but I think that what you have put here is not helpful. You're comments else-where here yesterday and today on airplanes and racial terms about Asians were grate though.
 
Erin said:
Aside from the Christmas decorations, I doubt this "foto" would look that different in any season (i.e. there would be no green in it in summer either), so I'm not sure what this proves.
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I've been to Dublin in Summer and Winter....
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/KM2G8A/du...day-on-henry-street-with-merchants-KM2G8A.jpg
... and in Summer most people do not wear Winter coats.... :lol:
https://liveireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Temple-Bar-DublinREN.jpg

The "greenest" area in central Dublin is St. Stephan's Green Park in "mild winter"..
https://cdn.theculturetrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/8279663301_5e1d813829_h-1024x683.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CS4a6orka...6_HNhmM/s1600/dublin+st+stephens+green+04.jpg

... and during summer..... :lol:
https://media-cdn.sygictraveldata.com/media/800x600/612664395a40232133447d33247d383335393537353434
https://l7.alamy.com/zooms/3abccfa6...-lake-garden-people-sun-walk-relax-e0fhk8.jpg

... any other comments on Ireland's greenery staying same in all 4 season?
 
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StasiyaGalustyanLove said:
I did a google for the term you put in quotes. Nothing came up to proove that is a real term, so I have concluded that you know just as much about this as you do about Ireland and figure skating.
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if you need to google those 3 words, your "conclusions" are of no relevance to me.. :D

Erin said:
Perhaps you should brush up on your reading comprehension because that's not what anyone has said.
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I am not sure i am the one with reading comprehension issue, and will not even question your "logic".. :D... When a person asks "I am wondering if it is a bad time to visit? Ireland is green, but is it green in winter or will it be all white?". The logical answer, no, you will not see in winter the "green Ireland" you expect.
The "green Ireland" that people expect and come to see is this, it is not such in Winter... gees.... i can't believe there is even a discussion that there is no lush greenery during X-mas time in Northern Europe....
https://www.countrywalkers.com/content/uploads/2015/10/County-Wicklow-3-1000x664.jpg
 
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As others have said, it will be dark, (most likely) grey, and cold but not freezing. I find the winters in the UK and Ireland miserable and would advise anyone to avoid them. Exception: London at Christmastime has amazing holiday lights and can be very festive.

Dublin is best enjoyed in spring, summer, or fall -- preferably during Daylight Savings Time.
 
Now I am thinking that I could visit Ireland anytime, but I may not have a chance to see the GPF again. I have to choose between the two (not enough vacation to do both). I am likely to choose the GPF for this December. From what I am reading here, it seems summer may be a better time to visit Ireland.
 
May to September is the best time of year to come here. Weather can still be unpredictable but the odds are better.
 
purple skates said:
Can’t speak to Ireland, but when I lived there London in the winter had a really limited daylight time (and especially compared to where you are from), and was pretty much cold, cloudy and not that great weather-wise.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the U.S., Pacific Northwest weather.
 
Peaches LaTour said:
Sounds like the U.S., Pacific Northwest weather.
Click to expand...

Kinda. I’ve only been in the PAC NW twice, once in January and once in a February. It seemed more, I don’t know - temperate? Maybe it was because I was mainly in rain forest areas.

London was definitely darker. It’s farther north than Seattle.
 
GarrAarghHrumph said:
It wasn't like east coast New England, which is where I'm from; so if your weather is similar, Ireland is different. ;)
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The weather can be like East coast NE but not always. This year hasn't been.

Typically, our summers are cooler and our winters are wetter than NE.

We get tons of precipitation in winter but never know if it will be snow or rain. This winter it was mostly rain.

I think Ireland actually gets a spring. We don't really. Which is one difference for sure.
 
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