Why Visit Ireland in April?

For those of you who prefer to travel off the beaten path, you might prefer to visit in off-peak season in order to avoid the crowds. Visiting Ireland in April means you’ll likely have most of the landscapes and sites to yourself. Even popular destinations like the Giant’s Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher, Kerry and Slieve League are largely quiet in April and May.

The tranquillity of springtime lets you best enjoy nature in its element. April is the perfect time to hike and bike your way through Ireland. You’ll also be able to get the best price, and fewer tourists mean you’ll meet with more of Ireland’s local characters.

Visit popular tourist attractions in the pre-season for a new perspective.

Spring Lambs

Ireland is known as a rural and agricultural country. Indeed, most of Ireland’s most amazing and sought-after destinations are in the countryside. Rural Ireland is also a place known for plentiful sheep and cows.

April is a great time to visit because spring is lambing season. Sheep and lambs are pretty adorable, and the fields will be full of bouncing, fluffy lambs. That’s not all though – alongside the lambs, you’ll find equally adorable calves.

Of course, lambs and calves aren’t the only baby animals in spring. The island is buzzing with life as all of the little critters come out of hiding. From baby seals to returning migrating birds, there’s no better time to explore the natural beauty of Ireland to meet the island’s wildlife than in April.

Find the best wildlife spots in Ireland here. 

Puffins in Ireland

Who doesn’t love the puffin? These adorable, slightly goofy birds are one of Ireland’s most beloved creatures.

The best time to see puffins is also spring and early summer. From April, puffins begin arriving on Ireland’s shores to breed. Due to their isolated nature and coastal regions, islands often serve as bird havens.

Spot these amazing birds in a place like the Skellig Islands in Kerry, Wexford’s Saltee Islands or Northern Ireland’s Rathlin Island.

Learn all about puffins here.

There are fewer tourists travelling in April and May. As a result, you’ll have more flexibility and choice. Have a specific accommodation in mind? You’ll have a better chance of getting that particular accommodation and type of room if you travel earlier in the year.

This goes for popular activities as well, such as boat trips in Killarney or to the Skellig Islands. If you want authentic, local activities such as sheep demonstrations, foraging experiences or exclusive visits, the quiet April spring season offers an ideal combination of weather, price, and availability.

Learn about some of Ireland’s best castles to stay in here.

Ireland is known for its stunning and frequent rainbows. While this may seem like an exaggeration, this isn’t just a stereotype – we have do get a lot of rainbows.

Ireland gets all of the necessary ingredients required to create rainbows: plenty of rain and low pressure. Consequently, mixed them together and you’ll end up with a seemingly endless supply of rainbows. While we don’t get rainbows every day, they are actually pretty common, and your chances of getting that stunning rainbow pic are fairly good.

Spring is a particularly good time to spot rainbows as the two required elements – rain and low pressure – are most common in transition seasons.

Read more about Irish rainbows here.