Weather in Ireland in January

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

A country pin in January is a warning: one region of Ireland will not match another. Use a city page if you already know where you are going. January is the cold side of the year in Ireland. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.

Ireland
Average temp
6°C

3–9°C

Rainfall
82 mm

Showers likely

Sunshine
1.6 h

hours per day

Wind
20 km/h

What to expect

Daytime

You want a proper coat in Ireland 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 Ireland. 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

Average weather in Ireland

TemperatureRainfall

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

Similar weather in January

Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.

Check another month

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FAQs about Ireland

Climate averages for Ireland, 1991–2020.

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

July is the hottest month, with an average around 15°C.

October is the wettest month, with about 96 mm of rain.

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