Ireland through the seasons
Summer in Ireland
Long daylight hours make summer the most practical season for island ferries, coastal walks and unhurried beach days. Demand and weather disruption are both possible, so reserve key transport early and retain flexibility.
Islands & coastlines
Five places for the season.
Select a place for visitor context, highlights and practical planning information.
Keem Bay and Achill Island
Keem Bay is a sheltered Atlantic beach beneath the steep slopes of Croaghaun on Achill Island, reached by a dramatic coastal road.
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Skellig Michael
Plan a Skellig Michael visit from County Kerry, with practical guidance for seasonal boat tours, weather-dependent landings and the island’s UNESCO-listed early medieval monastery.
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Inis Mór
The largest Aran Island combines stone-wall landscapes, Atlantic cliffs, beaches and internationally important archaeological sites.
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Rathlin Island
Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island offers cliff scenery, lighthouse history, wildlife and quiet walking routes.
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Curracloe Beach
A long pale strand backed by dunes and woodland on the Wexford coast, with space for walking as well as traditional beach visits.
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