The Millenium Spire, Dublin - Photo by C. Sturm, copyright.
Last April I traveled to Ireland to discover new lands in view of taking groups there, or planning trips for self-guided groups (check out my introductory blog on this trip here.) I must say that I was thrilled to learn so much about Irish history and culture, and to be able to visit several counties, cities, and villages.
My impressions and travel tips will come in a series of blogs, to keep the reading burden minimal (or lighter...!), starting with the weather report for April in Ireland. This can be useful if you plan a future trip to this beautiful country.
Before we get to the rest, here is one of my favorite photos taken during an excursion:
One in a million at the Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns - Photo by C. Sturm
Weather: April showers?
Expecting rotten weather through and through, my travel companion Françoise and I were ready to get soaked and to dredge through mud daily (OK, that is an overstatement). In 8 days on the Emerald Isle, we popped open our umbrellas a dozen times a day, but only for minutes at a time. It was as if a child were flicking the rain switch on and off like a child plays with lights. On the day that it finally poured, we were sheltered and already aboard our Dublin Sightseeing Bus. Most days, whether in Dublin or on the West coast, skies were cloudy yet dry. On the last 2.5 days, we enjoyed enough sustained sunshine - and warmer temperatures, that we got a bit sunburned and local shopkeepers and B&B owners jokingly threatened having to start charging us the Sunshine Tax.
Temperatures in April:
Temperatures ranged from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to about 55 F in Dublin and were about 10 degrees warmer on the West coast.
Clothing I packed:
April in Dublin
Coming from cold Minnesota, I expected to withstand 40-60 F temperatures quite well dressed in layers with a thin, water-resistant raincoat, thin gloves, a light scarf, jeans, and closed-toe walking shoes or dress boots. Underneath: an acrylic sweater, a cotton long-sleeved tee, a thin wool undershirt, and cotton or acrylic socks. However, I found myself chilled at times because we were out and about all day and the wind followed us around. The two things I would change from my wardrobe: Bring a warm coat or winter jacket, thicker or wool socks, or shoes with more insulation in the sole. Standing on wet, cold ground during our sightseeing tours of the Celtic Boyne Valley, County Mayo, County Clare, the Dingle Peninsula (County Kerry) left me with uncomfortably cold feet.
I noticed that no one in the cities and regions we visited wore gloves or boots in April, few wore stocking caps, and even fewer carried umbrellas; they just dodged the rain. The great majority of locals - men and women - wore jeans or other pants, flat shoes, and a zipped up winter jacket with a winter scarf. Now I know better than to think that what I wear in Minnesota when going from car to building without spending much time outside, is warm enough for a brisk, cool day of sightseeing. I was also trying to avoid packing my cumbersome wool coat which would have offered me more warmth, but would have been a nuisance to carry around on milder days.
Contact me if you have questions, share with a friend, and stay tuned for the next report.
Keep in mind we are planning a tour to the British Isles for summer 2017 which will include several days in Ireland. It will be unveiled soon on the "Guided Tours" page.
