With the dog days of August fast approaching, Rob Rankin of Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland, offers his top seven reasons why that’s the perfect month for you and your family to visit Ireland.
Beat the Heat
Depending on where you live, the long steamy days of summer can make even happy kids cranky, but in Ireland a typical summer average temperature hovers at about 66 degrees. That’s plenty warm enough to comfortably play outside, but not hot enough for little travelers to overheat. And yes, you may get a little rain — this is Ireland after all — but as Rankin said, “No rain, no green!”
Dunluce Castle, Antrim. Photo: Vagabond Tours of Ireland
Skip the Crowds
Looking to avoid over-touristed hot spots? Ireland is full of beautiful but little-known, off-the-beaten-path villages, coastlines and mountains relatively empty, even in August. “If you want to be poked with a selfie stick, try the south of France,” Rankin said.
Get Festive
The Irish know how to celebrate summer. If it’s Tuesday, there’s probably a festival to honor it. For example, the town of Kerry honors a wild goat at the annual Puck Fair, at which a bearded, and probably confused, goat is crowned King Puck as the locals dance to live music. This year’s dates are Aug. 10–12.
Puck Fair. Photo: Vagabond Tours of Ireland
Or head to the Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann festival (a.k.a. “the flaa”) celebrates traditional Irish music in a different town each year. In 2019, the flaa will be in Drogheda Aug. 11–19. Meanwhile, Waterford Walls draws world-renowned artists to Ireland’s oldest city to create amazing graffiti Aug. 22–25, and the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival, now in its 25th year, celebrates storytelling at Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island Aug. 30–Sept. 1.
Tuck-In
For full-fledged and wanna-be foodies, August is by far the best time to eat your way through Ireland, according to Rankin. Fresh-caught ocean scallops, seabass and mackerel, which locals call “the bacon of the sea,” are plentiful, along with fresh vegetables, wild blackberries and elderberries and wild venison.
Picnic in the mountains with Irish Coffee. Photo: Vagabond Tours of Ireland
Get Your Game On
Gaelic Games (a.k.a. GAA, or “gaaah”) are among Ireland’s national sports, and August is the lead-in to the All-Ireland finals, which take place in September. In Dublin, the GAA championship match at Croke Park is a big event for the Irish, but you can also come across Gaelic football or hurling matches in towns and villages throughout the country.
Heed the Call of the Sea
Select Vagabond itineraries include ferry rides to nearby islands such as The Skelligs, a film location for Star Wars
films and a UNESCO World Heritage site commemorating the ruins of a one-time monastery; Scattery Island, with its deserted village, monastic ruins and Napoleonic-era stone round tower; and the expansive gardens on Garnish Island. While water temps top out in August at around 64°F, the sun shines 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Sep 1, 2026Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa to Welcome Return of Elf on the Shelf This Holiday Season
The magic of Christmas quickly approaches as summer comes to a close, and families can experience the holiday season in a unique way this year.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026This London Hotel Launches Little Londoners Family Package
Balance a city break in London with kid-friendly experiences at Sea Containers London, an upscale, riverside hotel. The property recently debuted the Little Londoners package, a thoughtfully designed offering that makes exploring London easier (and more fun) for both kids and parents.
Hotels
Aug 26, 2026Make One Final Summer Splash at These 3 Unreal Hotel Pools
Summer may be coming to a close sooner rather than later; however, the warm air tends to linger into September, allowing for more fun in the sun.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Multigenerational
Aug 26, 2026Study Finds Road Trips Dominate 2026 Fall Travel, Generational Travel Habits
Hertz’s recent survey and booking data reveal how Americans travel this Labor Day and throughout the fall season. The company found nearly half of U.S. adults plan to travel this autumn, with road trips greatly outpacing air travel.
ShareThis