Ireland's weather is cool to mild in August, with moderate potential for rain. For visitors to Ireland in August we recommend visiting Dublin, the Wild Atlantic Way, Curracloe Beach, and Killarney National Park. Read on to find out more about travel and weather, including temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and tips for August.
Ireland Weather in August:
Averages:
- Temperature range: 12–19°C (54–67°F)
- Rainfall: 9 cm (4 inches)
- Rainy days: 15
- Sunshine hours/day: 6
- Humidity: around 69% (a bit humid throughout Ireland)
August is summer in Ireland, and the weather is mostly cool to mild with the potential to be a little warmer too. Average daily temperatures range around 12–19°C (54–67°F) throughout the country, with small variations depending on where you visit.
There is significant rainfall in Ireland in August, with around 15 rainy days in total throughout the month. Rainfall is approximately 9 cm (or 4 inches), leading to humidity levels of around 69%.
As with most of Northern Europe, there is always the potential for a heatwave in August which would mean higher temperatures than those listed. However, in general, summer is mild throughout Ireland.
August Climate Comparison (Averages) for Ireland's Top Tourism Areas
| City/Area | Temperatures | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin (main city, Irish culture, bars, Guiness) | Cool to Mild | Low |
| Galway (harbor city, history, architecture) | Cool to Mild | Moderate |
| Cork (foodie capital, architecture, history) | Cool to Mild | Moderate |
| Limerick (culture, old buildings, museums) | Cool to Mild | Moderate |
| Killarney (national park scenery, hikes, castle, abbey) | Cold to Mild | Moderate |
| City/Area | High (ºC) | Low (ºC) |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin (main city, Irish culture, bars, Guiness) | 19°C (66°F) | 11°C (52°F) |
| Galway (harbor city, history, architecture) | 19°C (66°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| Cork (foodie capital, architecture, history) | 19°C (66°F) | 12°C (54°F) |
| Limerick (culture, old buildings, museums) | 20°C (68°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| Killarney (national park scenery, hikes, castle, abbey) | 18°C (64°F) | 11°C (52°F) |
| City/Area | Rain (cm) | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin (main city, Irish culture, bars, Guiness) | 7 | 3 |
| Galway (harbor city, history, architecture) | 11 | 4 |
| Cork (foodie capital, architecture, history) | 10 | 4 |
| Limerick (culture, old buildings, museums) | 8 | 3 |
| Killarney (national park scenery, hikes, castle, abbey) | 10 | 4 |
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The Best Places to Visit in Ireland in August
August is mild to potentially warm during the daytime in Ireland, with temperatures cooling in the early mornings and evenings. As a result, we have some good recommendations for beaches, outdoor activities, and some indoor activities for the likely rainy days.
Dublin, the Wild Atlantic Way, Curracloe Beach, and Killarney National Park are great places to start building your itinerary for your time in Ireland. Our experts can also help you with putting together a trip for you, just reach out to let us know what you'd like to see, what you want to do, and how long you're planning on staying. Contact us to start planning your Ireland trip.
1. Visit the Incredible Museums of Dublin
Dublin is a wonderful city filled with plenty of activities both indoors and outdoors. If you want to capture the atmosphere of the city, we recommend reaching out and getting a walking tour guide for the day. This way you can see all the sights and get the historical background.
If you do come across some rainy days, there are great museums to help you understand Ireland's history. Start off with the Museum of Irish Literature, or the National Museum of Ireland. There is also EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, giving insight into the big role that emigration has played in Ireland's past.
For fans of whiskey or Guiness, there is the Irish Whiskey Museum or the Guinness Storehouse, which has a factory tour, but also other activities including a Guiness tasting or a demonstration in pouring the perfect pint of Guinness.
2. Mountainbike or Walk in Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park is one of the best national parks to visit in Ireland, and it is found right by Kerry on the southwestern coast of Ireland. After visiting Kerry, head over to the park for a hike, or if you want to cover more ground, we also recommend getting a bike and seeing the park by bike.
For more information on this, check out our piece about visiting Ireland in June.
3. Rent a Camper Van and Drive the Wild Atlantic Way
Driving the Wild Atlantic Way is an adventurous way to see the coastline along one of the most scenic drives in the entire world. A great way to cover this route is by renting a camper van or a van, which would give you the opportunity to spend some nights in the impressive mountains or by Ireland's rugged coastlines. Alternatively, there are hotels and guesthouses on the way, and you could rent a car to do it.
The entire route would take 32 hours to drive in one go, but most visitors take 3 to 5 days. If you have the time, you could spend a week or two on the journey, too.
Stops include beautiful secluded beaches (make sure you get your swimwear ready!) and villages such as Dunquin, overlooking the Blasket Islands. A museum in the village tells the stories of the people who lived and worked there.
On the Wild Atlantic Way, you will also pass the beautiful Letterkenny, a town where you will find County Donegal's only Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the Donegal Museum, often considered to be the best county museum in Ireland.
If you don't have the time to do the entire Wild Atlantic Way, another stunning route to explore is the Ring of Kerry, which is shorter. Read about this in our piece about visiting Ireland in July.
4. Walk along Beautiful Curracloe Beach
No trip to Ireland in the summer months is complete without a visit to one of the gorgeous beaches — Ireland is an island after all! Curracloe Beach is a white sandy beach backed by nature trails and dunes that make for a great walking location. The beach is not usually too busy.
One of these trails runs through the dunes to Raven Point — a nice 5-kilometer (3-mile) walk in Raven Nature Reserve.
While the water never really warms up around Ireland, if you are okay with cooler waters this is also a place to go for a swim or a paddle, especially if you hit the beach on a hot August day.
High Season: More Expensive and More Crowded
Given that the summer holidays usually fall in August in most of Europe and the Americas, Ireland is more crowded during this time of the year. The weather being warmer is also attractive for a lot of tourists, and August falls in the high season.
We do recommend booking ahead to avoid higher prices for accommodation and travel in August. Once you know you'd like to go, and if you need help planning your August trip to Ireland, let us know and one of our experts can help you put together your ideal itinerary. Contact us to start planning your Ireland trip.
What to Wear in August
August is a mild month in Ireland and can be warm, so we would recommend bringing a few summer items as well as a few warmer bits to keep you warm if the temperature drops. For those looking to visit a beach, bringing swimwear is a good idea, as well as sunscreen and sunglasses.
For hikers, we recommend bringing hiking equipment and good footwear to prepare you for a rocky and muddy walk, as well as a warmer layer for if you venture into the mountains.
Given that August can be rainy in Ireland, we also suggest a waterproof layer or an umbrella just in case.
