• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Let's Go Ireland

  • Home
  • FREE Starter Kit
  • Start Here
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Destinations
    • Dublin
    • Kerry
    • Cork
    • Galway
    • West Coast of Ireland
    • South of Ireland
    • East Coast of Ireland
    • Midlands
    • Northern Ireland
  • Travel Planning
    • Best Time to Visit Ireland
  • Itineraries
  • Pinterest

October 7, 2020 By LetsGoIreland

Weather in Ireland in May

Weather in Ireland in May, feature image
This post may contain affiliate links, such as AirBnB. If you click on one of them, we might receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

Table of Contents

  • 1 Ireland in May
  • 2 Weather in Ireland in May
  • 3 Temperature in Ireland in May
  • 4 Rain in Ireland in May
  • 5 Wind in Ireland in May
  • 6 Weather in Dublin Ireland in May
  • 7 Visiting Ireland in May

Ireland in May

May is often one of the best times of the year to visit Ireland. The days are getting longer, the weather forecast tends to be more settled than earlier in spring, average temperatures increase, average rainfall amounts are not too high and there are so many things to do!

There is also plenty of color in the landscape of the Emerald Isle too as nature really flourishes over the course of this month. (If you are visiting the west coast, it is a great time to visit the Burren in County Clare if you want to catch some amazing flower species!)

Flowers at the Burren, County Clare, Ireland.
A visit to the unique rocky landscape of the Burren should be a must for any visitor in County Clare. Photo courtesy of Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

Road trips along the Wild Atlantic Way coastal route exploring the Dingle Peninsula or the wilds of Connemara are really perfect at this time of year as the long days means that you can fit in a lot more sightseeing. Outdoor activities including hiking, surfing, golfing are also highly enjoyable in the late spring weather.

View from the Conor Pass, County Kerry, Ireland.
The view from the Conor pass in County Kerry is breathtaking, just be warned that the road is very narrow in places! Photo by Chris Hill / Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

If you fancy adding a castle visit to your itinerary, then follow Ireland’s Ancient East historical trail and you will be spoilt for choice with the amount of fascinating Irish historical attractions to choose from.

If you would prefer a city break tour, then cities like Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway or Derry in Northern Ireland also have a lot to offer around this time. Many attractions operate on their summer schedules, but luckily you still don’t have the same numbers of people visiting as during the peak summer season in June, July and August.

As many travel guides about the country point out, May is a great time to plan an Ireland travel vacation. To help you get a better idea about visiting Ireland in May, check out our post here.

Weather in Ireland in May

Based on the annual weather averages for each month, May is often a very good time to plan an Ireland vacation. Increasing average temperatures (with a low temperature of about 6 ° (43 °F) are very pleasant for sightseeing and also some outdoor activities such as hiking.

View from Croagh Patrick, County Mayo, Ireland.
May is a refreshing time to go hiking, if you get the right weather.
Photo by Gareth McCormack / Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

As the number of daylight hours also continues to increase during the month, you can really maximise your holiday by visiting some of the popular attractions early in the day or late in the evening. (They are often even more impressive if you have them mostly to yourself!)

In Ireland the weather forecast is often unpredictable, so even in May you should be prepared for some inclement weather conditions.

The average number of rainfall days (> 1.0 mm 0.04″ precipitation per day) are about 13, but this varies from place to place and should only act as an indication of what the weather might be like.

Wind is unlikely to cause many issues at this time of year.

Temperature in Ireland in May

In May, you can expect the average daily temperature to be about 11 °C (52 °F). There is little variation across the country and generally speaking the average temperatures fall between 7-15 °C (45-59 °F).

In the summer season of June, July and August, the temperatures increase a little more.

The water temperature is still cold, even by Irish standards. Generally, at this time of year the water temperature is about 11 °C (52 °F).

DublinCorkGalwayBelfast, Northern Ireland
Average temperature May10 °C
50 °F
11 °C
52 °F
12 °C
54 °F
11 °C
52 °F
Min. and max temperatures May6-14 °C
43-57 °F
7-14 °C
45-57 °F
8-16 °C
46-61 °F
6-15 °C
43-59 °F
Sunrise and sunset May 1st5.50 a.m. - 8.55 p.m.6.03 a.m. - 8.58 p.m.6.01 a.m. - 9.06 p.m.5.44 a.m. - 8.58 p.m.

Rain in Ireland in May

You should expect to encounter rain all year round in Ireland, but in May you might be lucky and avoid some of the heavier rainfall. On average Dublin receives about 60 mm (2″), while Cork as usual receives a bit more (ca. 80 mm or 3″).

DublinCorkGalwayBelfast, Northern Ireland
Average Rainfall May60 mm
2″
82 mm
3″
65 mm
3″
64 mm
2″
No. of wet days (> 1.0 mm 0.04″ precipitation)
May
11121315

Wind in Ireland in May

Unlike December and January, which can tend to be windy thanks to the winter weather, May is not a very windy month in Ireland. This is good news for outdoor activities and if you want to try camping!

Dublin Airport weather data records show an average wind speed of about 19 km per hour (12 miles per hour) for the month of May.

The areas near the coast are likely to be windier and a good coat is still essential to keep off the rain and wind chill at this time of year.

Weather in Dublin Ireland in May

Howth Head, County Dublin, Ireland
Head to Howth for a short day trip from Dublin if you would like a headland walk and wander around a charming fishing village.
Photo by Brian Morrison / Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

May is a great time to explore the countryside, but also the cities in Ireland and Dublin is certainly no exception.

In between visits to the main attractions (check our post here for the must-see sights), you can often relax and soak up the atmosphere, and maybe even some sunshine, in Dublin’s many parks. (They are particularly lovely and refreshing at this time of year!)

The average temperatures in Dublin in May fluctuate around 10 °C (50 °F), with a high temperature of about 14 °C (43 °F) and low temperature of 6 °C (57 °F). In terms of average rainfall, in May Dublin receives about 60 mm (2 “) spread over about 11 days.

While you will still need to wrap up a little, if you layer your clothes, you should be prepared for whatever kind of weather Dublin has to offer!

It is a good time of the year to travel outside of the city on a day trip or two. Bus tour operators offer a selection of day trips from Dublin to all over the country including the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

You are likely to enjoy the tour even more on a day with good weather, so check the weather forecast ahead of time to see when you should book the tour.

Visiting Ireland in May

It is hard to pick a better all round time to visit the Emerald Isle and Northern Ireland than in May.

While the Irish weather can never be guaranteed, generally the weather in the month of May can be quite good, with not too much rain and is favorable for sightseeing. The days are long and nearly all attractions are open and getting ready for the busy tourist season.

May is a superb time to go hiking in Ireland and the longer days mean that longer hikes can be attempted in daylight. Other outdoor activities are also well suited to this time of year.

While many tourists look forward to the idea of doing a road trip in Ireland, some find it a bit daunting driving on the left side on narrow roads.

By traveling to Ireland in May, you tend to beat the crowds and extra traffic associated with the peak season, particularly around the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way.

View of Ceann Sibéal in County Kerry, Ireland
Take your time if your drive around the Dingle Peninsula, there are so many great things to see that you will want to stop frequently and take lots of photos. Photo By Arthur Ward / Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

In your packing list for Ireland in May, don’t forget to include plenty of layers. The average temperatures are increasing, but when you wear layers of clothes, you should be able to deal with all sorts of weather that you might just encounter in Ireland at this time.

There might be a small saving when it comes to booking your Ireland travel plans for May rather than later in summer, but any savings on air travel (especially on long-haul flights from the United States) and accommodation are not likely to be very big.

Although it is not peak season, it might still be a bit difficult from time to time to book hotels, especially at weekends if it coincides with sporting events. (We have also experienced this problem in Dublin!)

Check your accommodation options in advance to make sure you are not caught out! While you are visiting Ireland, why not try some different accommodation types like a castle hotel or even a lighthouse?!

Trying to find the best time to travel to Ireland is for your itinerary? Then avoid the travel guides as you will find all the travel tips and useful things to know about in our best time to visit Ireland post. Read it here.

For more information about Ireland in May, you can read our other post here. Perhaps you want to compare the weather in Ireland in May with the weather in Ireland in April or the weather in Ireland in June? Read all the information you need in our month specific posts.

Related Posts:

  • Best Time to Visit IrelandBest Time to Visit Ireland
  • The Ultimate Ireland Star Wars Locations GuideThe Ultimate Ireland Star Wars Locations Guide
  • What is Ireland known for?What is Ireland known for?
  • Weather in Ireland in DecemberWeather in Ireland in December
  • Day Trips from CorkDay Trips from Cork
  • Famous Landmarks in Ireland you should visitFamous Landmarks in Ireland you should visit

Filed Under: Travel Planning

© Let's Go Ireland 2019 - All Rights Reserved

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Irish American Presidents with Irish Roots You Should Know
  • Famous Landmarks in Ireland you should visit
  • Ireland in September

Footer

About Let’s Go Ireland

There is a lot more to Ireland than leprechauns, sheep and Guinness! Let's Go Ireland is your cultural gateway to Ireland. We provide travel inspiration, tips, tricks and amazing itineraries to ensure that you get the best authentic experience of this unique island perched on the western edge of Europe.

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Irish American Presidents with Irish Roots You Should Know
  • Famous Landmarks in Ireland you should visit
  • Ireland in September
  • Weather in Ireland in September
  • Ireland in August

Search

  • Pinterest

© Let’s Go Ireland 2020 – All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy

  • Home
  • FREE Starter Kit
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Travel Planning
  • Itineraries
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2020 · Executive Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • English
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoPrivacy policy