Europe

Ireland in August

Still peak, with Irish and European school holidays layered on top. Book the west coast far ahead.

TradeoffsMild, highs near 66F (19C), mixed skies

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland — IrelandPhoto: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

August is a month of real tradeoffs in Ireland. Still peak, with Irish and European school holidays layered on top. Book the west coast far ahead.

Weather: Mild, highs near 66F (19C), mixed skies
Crowds: 5 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What August is like in Ireland

August stays mild, with highs near 66F (19C) and mixed skies. It is still peak season, with Irish and European school holidays on top of the summer crowd. The west coast books out, the Galway Races carry into the first days of the month and Puck Fair fills Killorglin on the Ring of Kerry for three days in mid August.

It suits families on school holidays who book early. If you are flexible, September brings calmer roads, lower prices and often better light. In August, start early and pick quieter corners like Connemara.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Ireland this month.

Puck Fair in Killorglin

One of Ireland's oldest fairs runs for three days in mid August, with street entertainment, markets and a goat crowned king.

Galway Races wrap up

The racing week carries into early August, and the whole west has a party feel.

Connemara's emptiness

When Kerry is jammed, Connemara's bogs and mountains still feel quiet. Kylemore Abbey is the postcard stop.

What to pack for August

A waterproof jacket for sudden showers
Layers for cool evenings
Waterproof walking shoes
A small daypack for island and cliff days

Our timing tip

Book the Book of Kells and Newgrange tickets ahead, because both cap out on August days.

Book Ireland for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Ireland
Opens a hotel search for Ireland in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Ireland
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Ireland
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Ireland for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

Galway Races

Late July into early August

A week of horse racing that fills the west of Ireland. Book Galway beds far ahead or stay well outside town.

Puck Fair

Three days in mid August

One of Ireland's oldest fairs, in Killorglin on the Ring of Kerry: street entertainment, markets, and a goat crowned king.

Things to do in Ireland

Full guide

Cliffs of Moher

Arrive before 10am or after 5pm in season; midday belongs to the coach tours. The cliff walk toward Hags Head escapes most of the crowd.

Tickets and tours →

Ring of Kerry

Drive it counterclockwise like the buses do to avoid meeting them head-on on narrow roads, and start early. Killarney National Park anchors the loop.

Tickets and tours →

Dublin's museum quarter

The National Museum's gold and bog bodies, Trinity's Book of Kells, and the National Gallery, all walkable. Book Kells tickets ahead in summer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Galway and Connemara

Galway is the base; Connemara's bog-and-mountain emptiness is the point. Kylemore Abbey is the postcard stop.

Tickets and tours →

Newgrange (Bru na Boinne)

A 5,000-year-old passage tomb north of Dublin. Access is by guided tour from the visitor centre and slots cap out in summer, so book ahead.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Dingle Peninsula

Many travelers' favorite corner of Ireland: the Slea Head loop, beehive huts, and a working fishing town full of music.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Do the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry before 10am; the coach-tour wave runs roughly 10:30am to 4pm and then vanishes.
Base yourself in Dingle or Kenmare instead of Killarney in summer: same scenery, calmer evenings, better tables without a booking.
Book Newgrange, Kilmainham Gaol, and the Book of Kells online well ahead in June through August; all three cap daily numbers and sell out.
Take the Ring of Beara or the Sky Road in Connemara when the Ring of Kerry is heaving; they are just as good and carry a fraction of the traffic.

Know before you go

Skellig Michael landings run only from roughly mid May to late September, and even in season boats cancel frequently for swell. Book early and build in a spare day.
Many rural and heritage attractions run reduced winter hours from roughly November through mid March, and some smaller sites close entirely; city museums and castles stay open year-round.
Good Friday and Christmas (December 24 to 26) close most attractions, and almost everything shuts on Christmas Day itself, including most pubs.
St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday: the party is on but banks, shops, and some sights close, and Dublin accommodation sells out months out.