Seven signs it's summer in Ireland
Written by Gemma on Jun. 17, 2025 | 0 Comments
Ireland enters a “twilight zone” of sorts in mid-summer. Our high latitude means the sun never dips far enough below the horizon for it to get truly dark at night. Instead we have endless twilight with LONG summer days!
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?
Photo Credit: Giuseppe Milo (CC BY 3.0)
Seven signs it is summer in Ireland
You can sure it's summer in Ireland when:
1. The summer clothes are out.
It may not be any warmer than a cool spring or autumn day. There may be hail or even sleet! No matter the temperature, the summer clothes are out in Ireland from June to August. We might never get a chance to wear them 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 who are used to warmer climes.
Guests in their finery "enjoying" the Irish summer weather at an Irish wedding.
Photo Credit: Athlone Photography ©
2. There is someone “giving out” about the weather.
The volatility of Irish weather is well known. But even if it's a fabled “good summer,” and the thermostat creeps up above 20 degrees centigrade, some will still find a way to find fault. Refrains of “it's nearly too warm” will be heard around the island from poor locals not used to the heat.
There will be sunburn.
Photo Credit: Phil Kates (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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!
It's a rare day that is a complete washout - but you do need to prepare for 4 seasons in one day in Ireland. As the saying goes, if you don’t like the summer weather, just wait an hour or two… it will change. In the mean time, just put on a layer, or two, or three, and keep going.
A snap of an Irish BBQ that went viral for all the wrong reasons under the tag "Irish BBQ's are worse."
Photo Credit: imgur
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 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 (my personal favorite), eaten sitting on a pier or after an icy swim. Or perhaps a creamy, cool pint after work? Or an iconic "99" ice cream, complete with chocolate flake bought from a noisy van. They all shout "Irish summer is here."
Photo Credit: Walter Baxter (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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's a festival for everyone in Ireland each summer.
The Puck fair in Co. Kerry is an annual event that goes back centuries.
Photo Credit: Puck Fair ©
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.
Hand-fasting plays a part in many Irish wedding ceremonies, much as it has done for hundreds and possibly thousands of years.
7. There is sport, sport and even more sport.
After all that you might be amazed to hear there is still time or energy left for anything else. But for many in Ireland, summer is about playing or watching sport, especially GAA. The undeniable 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.
A summer crowd in Croke Park, home of the gaelic games in Ireland
Photo Credit: Sheila1988 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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” from a local in response to this question!
Officially, Irish summer is the months of June, July, and August. However if you go by the Celtic calendar, and many here do, 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.
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Gemma
My Irish Jeweler
Gemma is our head jeweler. She is very passionate about jewelry and watches. Her favorite style is Tree of Life "because family and roots are so important to me".
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