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Ireland Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Ireland in December.

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Dublin Killarney Galway Cork

Considering a trip to Ireland this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Ireland in December

December in Ireland generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 9°C (48°F) in Laghy to 11°C (52°F) in Portmagee. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 7°C (45°F) in Portmagee and 3°C (37°F) in Laghy.

For specific regional insights in Ireland, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Ashbourne with an average of 74 mm (2.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Kincasslagh with 197 mm (7.8 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during December. Dublin experiences about 51 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Ireland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Ireland — and find the best time to visit. (based on Dublin)

January9°C (48°F) February10°C (50°F) March11°C (52°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly20°C (68°F) August20°C (68°F) September18°C (64°F) October15°C (59°F) November12°C (54°F) December10°C (50°F)
Best Time to Visit Ireland →

Best Places to Visit in Ireland in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Ireland.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Ireland

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Ireland?

Temperature range in Ireland (December)

Precipitation variation in Ireland (December)

Dublin

In December Dublin generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
71 hours
51 hours
56 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
77 mm (3 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Dublin →

Killarney

In December Killarney generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
52 hours
40 hours
44 hours
Monthly rainfall
119 mm (4.7 in)
128 mm (5 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
23 days
23 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Killarney →

Galway

In December Galway generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
54 hours
35 hours
45 hours
Monthly rainfall
110 mm (4.3 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
22 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Galway →

Kenmare

In December Kenmare generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
52 hours
40 hours
44 hours
Monthly rainfall
127 mm (5 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
132 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
23 days
23 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Kenmare →

Cork

In December Cork generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
68 hours
56 hours
57 hours
Monthly rainfall
96 mm (3.8 in)
101 mm (4 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
21 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Cork →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Ireland.

In our records: Ireland December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Ireland in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest December night in Ireland dropped to -16°C (3°F) in Donegal on December 23, 2010.
  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Ireland was -7°C (19°F) in Lurgan on December 21, 2010.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Ireland in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Dublin 10°C (50°F) 4°C (39°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Killarney 10°C (50°F) 4°C (39°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Galway 10°C (50°F) 4°C (39°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)
Cork 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Doolin 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 176 mm (6.9 in)
Rosslare 11°C (52°F) 7°C (45°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)

Ireland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ireland in December?

In December, Ireland generally has poor weather conditions. Dublin sees daytime temperatures near 10°C (50°F), with nights cooling to roughly 4°C (39°F).

What is the average temperature in Ireland in December?

Daytime temperatures in Dublin peak at roughly 10°C (50°F) in December, dropping to about 4°C (39°F) overnight.

Does Ireland get a lot of rain in December?

Not particularly. Dublin averages just 77 mm (3 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Ireland.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Ireland?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Ireland with often poor weather in Dublin.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in July and August offering mostly perfect weather in Dublin. On the other hand, the weather in January, February and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Ireland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Ireland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Ireland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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