By Dawn Rainbolt, Marketing Executive
Published: May 17, 2018More by Dawn
Whether you’re a family or retired, travelling solo or with friends, looking for a cultural or nature-based trip, find out why should you decide to visit Ireland in summer.
Enjoy the bright colours when you visit Ireland in summer!
Cyclists exploring the Great Western Greenway
So, let’s start with the easy one – school’s out for the summer! Ireland is the ideal family destination – wild and rugged, it is also a safe way to let your kids explore the Great Outdoors.
As any parent knows, the best time to travel with kids is during the summer, when you have multiple travel dates to choose from (instead of being consigned to one week at Christmas or Thanksgiving), and you don’t have to worry about homework or kids missing school. Let the family adventure begin!
And because of the increased travelling due to school being out, pretty much every attraction, accommodation, restaurant, castle and activity will be open, letting you make the best of your travel adventure in Ireland.
Hanging out with the locals in the Irish summer!
Well – sort of. Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle for good reason – and with all that greenery comes a bit of rain (though that’s not to say you won’t need a waterproof jacket, as you will get some rain while in Ireland – see what to wear while hiking in Ireland). But the months with the most sun (and the least amount of days with any precipitation – roughly half the days of the month) tend to be the summer months: May, June and July. August can be a bit rainy but at least the days are long. In fact, the longest day of the year is June 21, with nearly 20 hours of sunshine.
Find fresh local produce at outdoor markets while exploring Ireland
Since summer is the time for fun, there are festivals, concerts and events all over Ireland in both big and small. From nature activities to local crafts to traditional Irish music to literary festivals, there’s a little bit of everything during Irish summer days. Food and crafts markets pop up in every village across Ireland over summer weekends – perfect for tasting local cuisine or finding intriguing handmade gifts.
Exploring downtown Galway.
Whether you’re looking for international flights, short haul local flights from the UK and Europe, or prefer a good old-fashioned ferry, you’ll have far more choice when it comes to travel. You’ll also have the choice of connecting to certain local airports, like Cork, Kerry or Knock (in northwest Ireland). Tip: Set up an alert to know when you can get the best deals to and from your local airport and favourite destinations!
Find out more about travelling to and from Ireland here.
Carrowkeel tombs on the summer solstice, built 5,000 years ago to align with the sunset.
June 21st is the longest day of the year – and long important to the ancient Celtic peoples who inhabited this island. The days are long, with up to 18-20 hours of sunshine around Midsummer, meaning you’ll get a lot of daylight to enjoy! Also, many of the ancient Neolithic monuments are actually aligned with the summer solstice, which is pretty neat. One such monument is the tombs of Carrowkeel in Co Sligo in Ireland’s northwest. And because they are little-known, you won’t be overwhelmed with other visitors!
Hiking through the Burren – the perfect way to spend a summer’s day!
Ireland is an outdoor lover’s paradise. With hiking paths ranging from coastal or gentle hills to challenging peaks and long distance trails, as well as rambling countryside roads perfect for biking and plenty of gorgeous shoreline simply waiting to be explored by sea kayak, Ireland is just right for being outside. While you’re at it, why not try sea stack climbing, stand-up-paddling, open canoeing or horseback riding?!
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