Weather in Galway in January

January in Galway is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.

In Ireland, this is how Galway actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is the cold side of the year in Galway. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.

Pack for Galway in January, not for a brochure that was photographed in another season.

Galway
Average temp
6°C

4–9°C

Rainfall
100 mm

Showers likely

Sunshine
1.6 h

hours per day

Wind
20 km/h

What to expect

Daytime

You want a proper coat in Galway in January, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.

Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.

Rain

January is a wetter month in Galway. Showers are part of the deal, not a spoiled surprise.

Waterproof shoes matter more than a rain plan for a beach, especially if a beach is not why you came. Build indoor hours into the afternoon.

Evening

Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.

What to pack

  • Rain jacket

  • A layer for cooler evenings

Where to stay in Galway

Dates are a starting point for January.

All hotels in Galway

Travel guides for Galway

What to read before you book.

All travel guides in Galway

Average weather in Galway

TemperatureRainfall

Source: MeteostatPeriod: 1991-2020Checked: 28 Aug 2026265 places covered

Similar weather in January

Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.

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FAQs about Galway

Climate averages for Galway, 1991–2020.

The best time to visit Galway is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.

July is the hottest month, with an average around 16°C.

December is the wettest month, with about 113 mm of rain.

No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.