IRELAND - WHEN TO GO

Whenever you visit Ireland it's wise to come prepared for wet and/or windy conditions, especially along the west coast which faces the Atlantic, source of much of Ireland and Britain's weather. On average, it rains on around 150 days a year along the east and southeast coasts, and up to as many as 225 days a year in parts of the west and southwest.

April is the driest time, while December and January are the wettest. Whatever the case, the weather is very changeable and you'll often find a soggy morning rapidly replaced by brilliant sunshine in the afternoon. Most years also see long periods of gorgeous weather, though predicting their occurrence is often well nigh impossible. Generally, the sunniest months are April, May and June, while July and August are the warmest. Overall, the southeast gets the best of the sunshine.