Summer in Ireland

Endless days and short nights - you can’t beat summer in Ireland. With our northern latitude, from June to July the sun rises a little after 5am and sets close to 10pm. Of course daylight doesn’t necessarily mean warmth or sunshine for that matter, but we make the most of it. Since the weather may not give you any clues, how can you tell it is summer in Ireland?

Seven signs it is summer in Ireland

You can sure it's summer in Ireland when:

1. The summer clothes are out.

It may only be marginally warmer than a cold spring or autumn day. There may be hail or even sleet. No matter the temperature, we are wearing our summer clothes! We might never get a chance if we waited for fine weather to arrive. GAA training shorts and county jerseys abound. Our optimistic wardrobe choices can get some strange looks from visiting tourists used to warmer climes.

2. There is someone “giving out” about the weather.

The volatility of Irish weather is well known. But even if it is a fabled “good summer,” and the thermostat creeps up above 20 degrees centigrade, some will still find a way to find fault with the Irish weather. Refrains of “it is nearly too warm” will be heard around the island from locals not used to the heat.

3. There are BBQ and beach days, rain, hail, or shine.

There may be complaints about the weather, but because we can’t count on it, we tend to just get on with things. Polar weather at the beach? That’s what a jumper is for. Rainy BBQ? Umbrellas and raincoats at the ready! Plus it's a rare day that is a complete washout. It is famously said that you need to prepare for 4 seasons in one day in Ireland. So if you don’t like the summer weather, just wait an hour or two… it will change. And in the mean time, just put the head down and get on with it.

4. There are tasty treats at every turn.

If we waited around for the sun to show itself, we might miss out on all the delicious Irish summer goodies. BBQ has certainly come a long way in Ireland since the photo above was taken, even if it can still be a little rain sodden at times. But the taste of Irish summer is really about perfectly ripe, fresh, strawberries bought from a stall at the side of the road. Or salty fish and chips with the odd crunch of sand from the beach after an icy swim. Or perhaps a creamy, cool but not cold, pint after work? Or an iconic "99" ice cream, bought from a noisy van. They all scream Irish summer is here.

5. There are festivals to beat the band.

Once well fed, the energy is up, and it's time to celebrate. Perhaps it's our pagan roots showing, but summer in Ireland is jam packed with festivals, fairs, concerts, and parties. We tend to cram a lot of life into the few bright summer months. Music, art, dance, literature, food and even an ancient fair for a goat - there is a festival for everyone in Ireland each summer.

6. Venues are busy with summer weddings.

Summer in Ireland also means weddings for many people, complete with lovely Irish traditions. Those lucky to be invited prepare themselves for endurance events. Why so many summer weddings? Perhaps it is the celebratory mood that naturally leads to love. Or it might go back to our pagan ancestors and the Celtic festivals of the summer - Bealtaine, Solstice, and Lunasa, where hand fasting and betrothal were all part of the festivities.

7. There is sport, sport and even more sport.

After all that you might be amazed to hear there is still energy left for anything else. But for many in Ireland, summer is about playing, or at least watching, sport and specifically GAA. Surely the sound of an Irish summer is the roar of a crowd at a GAA match, or the frenzied match commentary spilling out from a nearby radio or TV? The biggest matches of the year for hurling, camogie, and gaelic football take place over the summer. It can feel like the entire country stops to cheer on these modern day Celtic warriors.

When is it actually summer in Ireland?

If you want to join the fun and games, when exactly does this fabled Irish summer begin? Some years you might get a rueful “never” in response to this question - another slight on Irish weather. Officially, Irish summer is the months of June July and August. However if you include the Celtic calendar you can always kick things off early, with Bealtaine at start of May.

Your own Summer Story

Of course our seven signs above are just a snapshot of summer in Ireland. If we missed the most notable thing about Irish summer for you, please let us know. Send us an email or comment below. We would love to hear your own Irish summer story.