Spring in Ireland is one of the best times to visit this wonderfully welcoming and beautiful island.
Whether exploring the fascinating maritime history of Belfast or the culinary expertise in Cork, a springtime visit finds an island in full bloom. The waves may still be rolling in off the Atlantic, but the sun is frequently shining through the clouds and the gardens of the manor houses or the emerald glens of Antrim glow with color.
Ireland in spring is not all fine weather, of course. There are still enough passing showers to generate a gothic ambiance around Blarney Castle or to drive you into a cozy pub. Read on to discover the joys of a visit to Ireland in spring.
Warming Temperatures
Belfast
Winter in Ireland is a richly atmospheric time of year. Atlantic storms sweep in, traditional music leaks from behind the steamed-up windows of pubs, and the cold temperatures see everyone wrapped up in scarves, gloves, and snuggly Aran sweaters.
With the arrival of spring and lengthening days, Ireland begins to look its best. While average temperatures of between 45°F and 59°F (7°C and 15°C) might suggest an insulated jacket, warm hat, and gloves, when the sun comes out everything feels—as the Irish would put it— “grand”.
Once we’re out of March, the rain begins to ease. While April and May have on average 11 days of rainfall each, late spring also includes some of the island’s sunniest days.
Killarney National Park
Averages of 6.5 hours of sunshine per day, rising to seven in the southeast encourage golfers out for a round, hikers to traverse the mountain trails of Killarney National Park, and fishermen to set up beside the clean, chilly rivers.
Remember, Ireland likes to surprise. You might arrive during an April heatwave and enjoy sunshine for your entire trip. Or you may have the exact opposite. Think of it as the thrill of the unknown.
Impressive Castles without the Crowds
Blarney Castle
With the lengthening days also come the lengthening lines to enter the heritage sites. However, for the most part, spring in Ireland guarantees a fast track into the country’s impressive antiquities, especially compared to the summer. Just double-check the opening hours to ensure they haven’t been limited during the shoulder season.
Blarney Castle
Among the most famous of these is Blarney Castle, a short drive from the southerly city of Cork. A gnarled, 15th-century fortification, this Irish castle is best known for the superstition that surrounds its so-called “Blarney Stone”. Kiss the stone set into the top of the tower, and you’ll be endowed with loquaciousness, or the ability to speak nonsense, as the word “blarney” hints.
In the spring, the stone—regularly washed with rain and with fewer lips puckering up to undertake the ritual—is a more appealing prospect than in the summer, when it receives non-stop attention.
Rock of Cashel
Travel northeast of Cork and you arrive at Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, which dates back to the time of the Vikings. World famous for its crystal glass, Waterford is also close to the country’s most popular heritage site, the Rock of Cashel.
In spring, the culturally important Cashel, with its 12th-century Round Tower and Gothic cathedral, is all the more atmospheric for the fewer visitors.
Spring is also a good time to visit Waterford’s Viking Triangle to discover what life was like in 10 AD. Undertake the King of the Vikings virtual reality tour for a deep dive, or marvel at the replica Viking longship in the Medieval Museum. Afterward, select a sparkling souvenir of Waterford Crystal from the nearby showroom.
Cahir Castle
An hour’s drive from Waterford is the 12th-century Cahir Castle—one of the country’s largest and best preserved. Situated on an island in the River Suir, the drama of this medieval castle is only added to by the shifting light of a mixed spring day.
Easter Festivities
Easter in Ireland
The arrival of gamboling lambs in the island’s lush fields heralds the coming of Easter. Traditionally the Irish and Northern Irish celebrate this religious holiday by attending mass on Easter Sunday, gathering for a family meal, usually starring one of the aforementioned lambs, and hunting for chocolate eggs in the backyard.
There are other ways of tapping into the Easter vibe, other than attending a church service or earning an invitation to Sunday lunch, which in this hospitable place is not beyond the realm of possibility after a few Jameson’s whiskeys in the pub.
Many tourist attractions in the country offer an Easter-themed activity to go with your visit. Naturally, most of these are targeted at families with younger children, although some heritage sites offer activities that appeal to chocoholics of all ages, such as chocolate egg decorating and eating.
Dungarvan
Close to the Easter period, the town of Dungarvan, close to Waterford, hosts an annual three-day Festival of Food. This coastal town is thronged with visitors taste-testing delicious local produce and delicacies at the kiosks lining Grattan Square. The itinerary also includes wine tasting, cooking demos, and seaweed discovery walks.
Read: Exciting Things to Do With Kids in Ireland
Outdoor Adventures
Killarney National Park
With its seasonal mix of startling sunbursts, chilly winds, and gentle rain, a hike or walk during spring in Ireland is often an enlivening, memorable excursion.
One of the Republic of Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes is Killarney National Park. It’s home to the McGillycuddy’s Reeks, the island’s highest mountains. Just over an hour’s drive west of Cork, Killarney’s 25,000 pristine acres are also the location of the 15th-century Ross Castle and the pretty Torc Waterfall.
Old Head of Kinsale
Coastal walks in Ireland can be impressively dramatic. With over 3,000 miles of coastline, it’s not all contained on the west coast, where the towering Cliffs of Moher are pounded by the Atlantic. The Old Head of Kinsale in the south is a dramatic protrusion of land, finished with a handsome striped lighthouse. Be sure to have your “big” camera with you on a walk here.
Waterford Greenway
If you’d prefer to travel on two wheels rather than two feet, the Waterford Greenway is considered one of the country’s most scenic bike routes, especially during spring in Ireland. Taking upward of four hours to complete, the route follows a disused railway line for roughly 30 miles from inland Waterford to Dungarvan on the coast.
One of Northern Ireland’s most lauded landscapes is the North Antrim Coast. Along this jagged 20-mile stretch of cliffs and coves, views alternate of the tumultuous sea and the emerald peacefulness of the hinterland glens. It’s also here that you’ll find the UNESCO-protected Giant’s Causeway, one of the best hikes in the UK; just be sure to time your visit with low tide.
Gorgeous Spring Gardens
Curraghmore House
Following winter’s generosity of atmospheric wetting, the island’s grand gardens, attached to its stately homes, are at their blossoming best during spring in Ireland. Good, waterproof walking shoes or boots are best as the lush grass can retain moisture superbly well.
Curraghmore House, a short drive from Waterford, is one of the best places to visit in Ireland. Home to the ninth Marquis of Waterford, this 2,500-acre estate includes exquisite formal gardens that explode with spring color.
Muckross House, Killarney
Muckross House is situated in the southwest, amid the moody hills and forest of Killarney National Park. The impressive gardens of this imposing 19th-century manor house were originally created to welcome Queen Victoria on a visit in 1861. The gardens in spring are a riot of azaleas, rhododendrons, and baby blue hydrangeas.
In the north, Mount Stewart is one of the island’s demesnes—vast estates that balance productivity alongside aristocratic hauteur. The family residence of the Londonderry family, Mount Stewart contains a rare example of a compartmentalized garden in the Arts and Crafts style.
Botanic Gardens, Belfast
In Belfast, you’ll find a rare tropical corner at the city’s Botanic Gardens. Home to rare oak trees, a fulsome rose garden, and an impressive selection of flora from the southern hemisphere, the garden’s Palm House is a beautiful cast iron glasshouse perfect for ducking out of a brief spring shower.
You’ll find the Botanic Garden near the Queen’s University campus, across the river from Ormeau Park.
Cozy Pubs
Pub in Ireland
Ireland’s pubs are an iconic force with worldwide exposure. Of course, nothing beats the real thing. Best of all, if the weather’s on the chilly side, there’s usually a fire blazing in the corner. And even if it’s not very cold, someone might light a fire just for the “craic”.
While in Cork, switch your stout preferences to Beamish, the local, more delicious Guinness equivalent. As the city offers one of the country’s liveliest traditional music scenes, a visit to a historic pub like Sin é is a cultural visit of the highest importance. If you want to get a seat near the musicians, check the website for timings and be sure to arrive early.
The Crown Bar in Belfast is an entirely different proposition. A gaudy Victorian gin palace, it dates back to 1885. Its astonishingly ornate interior has an almost ecclesiastical bombast, thanks to the involvement of Italian craftsmen who decorated the pub as a side hustle while fitting out local churches. It’s best to book ahead if you want one of the sought-after snugs.
Find another cozy slice of Irish history at the J&K Walsh Victorian Pub and Grocers in Waterford. Evidence of the dual use of these premises is everywhere: brass scales, antique spice drawers, and beer taps that have been pouring the Black Stuff for decades. Settle onto a tall wooden bar stool with your best anecdote at the ready.
Irish whiskey
If you’re keen to taste some of the country’s delicious whiskey, it’s easy to book a distillery tour. Amid the North Antrim Coast’s scenic grandeur, you can divert into the Old Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Bushmills’ guided tours take you via malting and mashing, right up to a fortifying tasting full of honey and vanilla notes.
Jameson’s Midleton Distillery
Jameson’s Midleton Distillery is another of the country’s sacred places for lovers of Irish spirits. Home to the world’s largest pot still, among other more sippable one-offs, you’ll learn about the story behind some of Ireland’s most sought-after whiskies.
Read: Ireland Travel Tips
The Titanic Story
Titanic Belfast
If the weather has decided that spring in Ireland needs just a little more watering, the Titanic Belfast experience, situated in Belfast’s Maritime Mile, offers shelter as well as gripping history.
Visiting this site is one of the best things to do in Belfast, where you can learn about the origins of the RMS Titanic, which was launched from the city’s docks in 1911. The museum’s nine galleries, through arresting design and multimedia exhibits, eloquently explore the ship’s ill-fated story.
But for all of the modern wizardry, the museum’s highlight has to be the feeling of stepping onto the actual slipway from which the Titanic launched.
Cork was the departure point for the Titanic’s first and only voyage in 1912. The Titanic Experience museum in the city brings the passengers’ stories affectingly to the fore, its intimate exhibits set within the office building of the White Star Line. It was from here that 123 passengers boarded on that fateful Irish spring day over a century ago.
Springtime Culinary Specialties
English Market, Cork
Food in Ireland is often hearty, stick-to-your-ribs fare, perfect for fortifying you during blasting winter gales. As spring in Ireland kicks in, the menu broadens as the delicious fresh produce finds its way onto the chopping boards of the islands’ kitchens.
One of the country’s culinary hotspots is Cork. Its 18th-century English Market is at the heart of the city center and among its stalls laden with produce, you can orient yourself to whichever seasonal ingredients are available at any given time. You’ll also be able to pick up Irish cheeses, still-warm loaves from the oven, and locally ground coffee.
Lamb
Whether eating in Cork’s English Market or at Kinsale’s highly regarded Finns’ Farmcut restaurant, spring is the best time of year for lamb. Often roasted, seasoned with wild garlic, and served with buttery new potatoes, it’s a delicious meal full of the flavors of the season.
For something lighter and meat-free, breathe in the fragrances of a spring vegetable soup made from freshly grown herbs, tender asparagus, and spring onions—and potatoes, of course.
Round it off with a buttery tart made with freshly harvested rhubarb, a rich dollop of cream balanced on top full of the flavor of the brilliantly green grass of springtime Ireland.
Cobh
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