
Half the sky can be stormy, the other half sunny… Ireland’s weather is unpredictable and changeable, and its best to be prepared.
Before we answer that question, we have to detail Ireland’s terrain and weather.
Water is a big part of our lives in Ireland. It rains… well, quite often here. In fact, on average, we get between 750 and 1000 mm (29 to 39 inches) of rainfall every year. On the west coast of Ireland (most likely where you plan to visit!) rainfall is generally higher, averaging between 1000 and 1400 mm (39 to 55 inches), while in the mountainous regions, it can exceed 2000 mm (78 inches) per year.
Compare that to other places renowned for their raininess like London (580 mm/23 inches), NYC (1140 mm/45 inches), Vancouver (1,100 mm/45 inches) and Paris (640 mm/25 inches). And then when you compare that to drier climates like Atlanta, San Diego, Nice, and Rome, well, it’s clear that it rains a lot in Ireland. Most places have a rainy season where there are storms that can last all day (contrasted with days and days of sun), but in Ireland, our rainfall is dispersed throughout the day and the year – its a well-known fact that we can get all 4 seasons in one day! Raining outside? Wait 10 minutes and it will probably have stopped. In another 10, it might very well be raining again…
As said before, Ireland has a lot of bogland – essentially wet and mucky terrain made of peat and covered with heather and other wild flora. Though some 85% Ireland’s original bogs have vanished due to peat and turf cutting, deforestation and land reclamation/farming, the Emerald Isle still has an awful lot of bogs – over 420 km². Many of Ireland’s dramatic west coast landscapes are large parts bog.
Learn more about Irish weather here.