When is the best time of year to visit Ireland and what areas are good for checking out?

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leef

Definitely spring, April or May, and the best places are all on the South and West coast, stay out of Dublin, that's a disgusting place.
Cork is the main city in the South then there are Youghal east of Cork, and Skibbereen to the west; the whole South coast is quite magical, but so is the West coast, especially between Galway and Letterfrack.
If you are interested in botany you can go and visit the Burren in Clare, there the limestone supports a very unusual endemic flora of "alpine" plants.
The cheapest places will actually be in Northern Ireland, see the Glens of Antrim, and Loch Neigh if you go there.

beckysporch

It is ALWAYS green in Ireland - even during the winter. The temperature is moderate but during the winter it gets light late in the morning and dark in mid afternoon. Galway is gorgeous, farther north but worth the time and effort to get there. The west coast is a great place to explore - the WHOLE west coast. If you have time, head across the border for a day or two in Belfast or even Armagh or Londonderry/Derry. Dublin would be worth a day or two trip just to see some of the history there.

Joey L

I went to Ireland this past March. One thing I heard over and over was that you dont go to Ireland for the weather, and while I found that to be very true, I have heard that June or July is the best time to go. But when I did go, it only cost me $625 for airfare from Chicago and hotel for a week.

I live in Chicago and was still quite amazed at the part scene in Dublin. Although I found it a lot of fun, if you want quiet, Dublin might not be your best bet.

I travelled to Blarney (gotta kiss the stone!), Kildare, and Glendolaugh (also known as Wicklow). those three places were much more quite and the scenery and atmosphere was amazing and most likely more what you are looking for. Once you get out of Dublin, the little pubs alone the roads are wonderful and the stories you get from the locals are priceless. Slainte!

jael_hk

Winters are DARK!! As others have said, the West coast is fantastically, spectacularly beautiful. The best tip I can give is to go before Memorial Day -- it will be pleasant weather-wise, but if you go then, take more long trousers than you think you should and more light jackets. I only brought one pair of khakis and one jacket and wished desperately for more. Even at the end of May/beginning of June, the sun didn't set until 10:30 or so at night!! It was awesome. We stayed in a B&B in Doolin, a tiny town with great music and a ferry straight to the Aran islands.

LadyMoonlight!!

Dublin is a big city atmophere really. Good if you like history and shopping, as well as partying! Although I gotta be honest I didn't really like Dublin much. Too big, too busy, some really not so nice bits . . .

Depends if you want to PARTY or to visit rolling green hills etc.

I've been to Ireland a few times (I live in South Wales but I've got the ferry accross - yuk, very stomach churning, that Irish Sea crossing!)

County Cork is very pretty and I much prefer Cork to Dublin (we went with friends and rented a large villa int he countryside there for a week) but we went around Hallowe'en last time (end October-beginning of November), so it was VERY wet and rainy all the time.

The West Coast of Ireland is very picturesque. nothing like dipping your toes in the Atlantic or taking a boat ride to see the seals!

Dublin is good for shopping etc, I also liked the historical buildings and yes its a good place to go at St Patricks, or New Year or any other holiday for the party atmos, although we didn't really go for that.

I prefer the more rural bits of Ireland really as the scenery is lovely, reminds me of Wales. If you go down Cork way you can visit Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone! (Have to fight your way through all the other tourists though!). its dead scary as you have to lean backwards off this really high tower (theres an old bloke there who holds you round the waist so you don't plummet to your death!).

It took me two attempts because I'm such a coward and I looked down!

I'd go in spring or summer if I went again simply because it rained so much last time and the ferry crossing was really bad (everyone was mega-seasick!)

a m

Iff you stay out in the countryside, the cost doesn't differ too much seasonally. June and July offer the best weather. A wonderful place to visit is Gougane Barra, south of Cork. Very nice setting. Portmagee of the Ring of Kerry...you can take a boat to the Skellig Islands. Dingle and Doolin are nice too.

Thumbs Up

Check out the ireland website. it has lots of information about ireland and hotel and guesthouses etc. you can even book online.

http://www.ireland.ie/

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