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Weather in Ireland in November

Ireland in November

There are many great things to do in Ireland in November, so don’t let the winter weather put you off making a trip to the Emerald Isle at this time of year.

If you want your itinerary to largely consist of outdoor activities or a longer road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way, then perhaps November is possibly not the best time to visit Ireland.

It is true that the Irish weather is usually mixed, cool and often cloudy during this month. The days are also a lot shorter than in the summer.

This combination makes it an ideal time to discover some of Ireland’s vibrant cities and explore the country’s fascinating historical and cultural heritage in some of its many museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls. 

Adding a visit to Galway, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney or Dublin in November is a good addition to any Ireland travel itinerary. Belfast and Derry in Northern Ireland are also lively cities well worth exploring as well.

Popular attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Glendalough in Wicklow National Park and Blarney Castle in County Cork are of course open all year round, but the opening hours might be reduced, so be sure to check beforehand.

Day trips from Cork

Ferry connections are likely to operate more limited service in comparison to high season too, so keep this in mind if you want to visit the Aran Islands, for example.

One of the biggest advantages of making an Ireland vacation at this time of year is that it is likely to be more economical, particularly if you are planning an Ireland family holiday.

November is the low season in Ireland and most years good deals on hotels and flights can be found around this time before the busy Christmas and New Year period. 

 

 

Weather in Ireland in November

Stormy weather and big waves crash against Inis Mór, one of the Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway.
Stormy weather and big waves crash against Inis Mór, one of the Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway.
Photo copyright Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

The weather in Ireland in November is likely to be cool, with some rain and frequent grey skies. There might also be the odd winter storm with high winds, which makes the rugged beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way coastal drive along the Irish west coast even more awesome. 

If you plan outdoor activities during this time, just be prepared to be flexible depending on conditions of the daily weather forecast.

Mist and low clouds can reduce visibility, so on some days, your view of highlights such as Cliffs of Moher, the Burren or other sights along the west coast might be limited. (This isn’t just restricted to the month of November, but is more likely during the winter months.)

When it comes to visiting Ireland late in the year, it is essential to have the right clothes with you. As always, the best travel tips when it comes to clothes is to use layers and make sure that you have good waterproofs.

Personally, I never just rely on an umbrella, as it can also be windy rendering umbrellas often fairly useless. 

Temperature in Ireland in November

The average daily temperature in Ireland in November is about 4-10 °C (39-50 °F). While it is not as cold as other climates, the low temperature and damp conditions combination, can make you feel chilly so it is best to bring a good jacket.

DublinCorkGalwayBelfast, Northern Ireland
Average temperature November7 °C
45 °F
6 °C
43 °F
8 °C
46 °F
6 °C
43 °F
Min. and max temperatures November5-10 °C
41-50 °F
4-9 °C
39-48 °F
6-11 °C
43-52 °F
4-9 °C
39-48 °F
Sunrise and sunset November 1st7.24 a.m. - 4.52 p.m.7.29 a.m. - 5.05 p.m.7.35 a.m. - 5.03 p.m.7.26 a.m. - 4.46 p.m.

Unless you are accustomed to cold water conditions, you are unlikely to be taking a dip in the sea around this time (average water temperature in Salthill, County Galway is about 13 °C (55 °F).

Rain in Ireland in November

While you can get dry, sunny days in Ireland in November, there are often a lot of rainy days too. It is fair to expect to encounter rain on at least half of the days in November.

Sometimes this precipitation is in the form of a light shower and other times, well, it can be very wet for a considerable amount of the day.

DublinCorkGalwayBelfast, Northern Ireland
Average Rainfall November73 mm
3″
120 mm
5″
94 mm
4″
97 mm
4″
No. of wet days (> 1.0 mm 0.04″ precipitation)
November
11141519

Wind in Ireland in November

On calm days, the average wind speed in Dublin is about 24 kmh (15.5 mph) in November. This varies across the country though and areas near the coast are likely to experience higher wind speeds and especially gusts of wind. 

At this time of year there can also be some winter storms, which will result in windier conditions and also some potential flooding in coastal areas.

Weather in Dublin Ireland in November

If you decide to travel to Ireland’s capital city, you can expect the average temperature in Dublin in November to be about 7 °C (45 °F) with an average low temperature of roughly 5 °C (41 °F). By around 5pm in the evenings (and of course even earlier the closer you get to December), it is dark outside.

The best things to do in Dublin

In comparison to other cities at a similar latitude, the weather conditions are quite mild during the month of November. Although it is necessary to wrap up to keep warm, you are unlikely to encounter snowy conditions. This is a big plus when you travel during this early winter season!

Rainfall is common though and generally speaking you can expect at least 11 wet days (wet day is considered to be any day where the precipitation is greater than 1.0 mm or 0.04″).

If you bring suitable clothing, even a poor weather forecast should not bother you very much in the city.

Unusual Sights in Dublin

Even on the dull days, a wander around Trinity College Dublin is a pleasant experience and you can always warm up in one of the many pubs in the city where you can hear great live music.

The water temperature in the Forty Foot outdoor swimming area is about 13 °C (54 °F)  in case you fancy a very refreshing dip!

Is a trip to Ireland in November worth it?

Superb fine days do also occur in Ireland in winter like this one on Murder Hole Beach in County Donegal. Photo by Chris Hill / Tourism Ireland 2017 via Ireland’s Content Pool

Personally, I think that a trip to Ireland is worth it at any time of the year! But as many travel guide books say, it is important to keep the weather in mind when planning your Ireland travel itinerary, especially during the winter months. 

November is also a good month to travel if you want to keep a reign on your budget.

If you are planning a city break for example, then there are many superb things to do in Ireland in November.

Dublin is a good option as it is possible to visit many indoor attractions, including the Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells at Trinity College Dublin and the National Gallery of Ireland.

Secret Spots in Dublin

For some more inspiration, check out this post. As many of the attractions are indoors, the weather should not interfere with your plans all that much. 

An added plus of coming at this time of year is that you can experience the Christmas atmosphere at the end of November (colorfully decorated streets, festive food and Christmas markets) without the associated high cost of flights and hotels during the high season around Christmas and New Year. 

Day trips to some of Ireland’s top attractions (including the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Blarney Castle and Glendalough) are still possible to do at this time of year, but the shorter amount of daylight hours means that you should carefully consider what you want to include in your itinerary for this trip.

Poor weather on the Aran Islands with limited visibility of the cliffs.
Photo by John Hession / Tourism Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

Time during a vacation is so precious and daylight hours in winter are very valuable sightseeing time so it is a pity to spend the best part of the day travelling by car or by bus.

Road trips at this time of year are also not ideal and are generally better suited to the warmer months with more daylight. Occasionally the temperatures around this time dip to below freezing, which makes the country roads more difficult to drive on. 

One benefit of traveling to Ireland in November means that you might be in with a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights if you are lucky.

Northern Lights in Ireland

All in all, November is a good time to go to Ireland if you are flexible with your itinerary and don’t mind visiting more indoor attractions. Winter is a lovely time to sit by the fireside in a cosy pub and enjoy some live music and a pint.

If you are still trying to find the best time to visit Ireland to suit your itinerary, then read our longer article here

It might also be a good idea to check out our weather in Ireland in October and weather in Ireland in December to posts if you want to compare the weather in late autumn and early winter months.

We also have a post about Ireland in November to give you a better idea of what to do in Ireland in November.