Posted by PAT on January 28, 2007 at 16:21:17:
In Reply to: Ireland in April posted by karen white on January 28, 2007 at 11:26:24:
: Dear Pat,
: We had an AMAZING first trip to Ireland for 3 weeks in July 2004. The weather was gorgeous every day! We traveled around the whole coast from Dublin north and back to Dublin, hit a lot of the highlights and took in lots of Irish music including a fantastic spontaneous session in the Aran Islands. Now we are planning a 2 week trip in April. We are wondering how it will be in the "off" season. Do you think there will be anything happening in the Aran Islands in April. How is Ireland different in the spring vs the summer? Thanks so much!
Dear Karen,
I am planning one of my group trips to Ireland this year in April, so I obviously think it is a good time!
You might like to click to our Group Trips Section and read the description of what Ireland is like in the Springtime (very appealing), especially the blooming flowers and shrubs, baby lambs frolicking on the hillsides etc. Look at our "Blog" as well to get an idea of the lovely weather we had and the activities that we took in (boat cruises, horse-drawn cart rides, lunchtime pub music, walking tours). We are repeating all of that this April, too.
So, after reading and looking at the photos, you will know that April is a very good time to go, although Irish traditional entertainment is not as readily available till after May 1 and in some areas June-August. In the pubs, during the "off" season, music happens mainly on weekends and is often more geared to the locals (i.e. country and western tunes, and if it is young crowd, rock). So you have to seek out the traditional music which is easy to do by reading the signs in pub windows or inquiring at local tourist offices. Also look out for "Irish evenings" such as Kate Kearney's in Killarney (we have this on our tour), or the Ceili at Bunratty Folk Park. Usually, most major tourist towns (Killarney, Galway, Dingle, Kinsale, Ennis, Donegal etc.) will have traditional music at one or more pubs, most every night.
In the Aran Islands, it could be quiet on week nights except for Easter Week (the week after Easter Sunday) when kids are off from school and a lot of Irish families go West. So, if you are there over that period, it should be pretty lively. Forget Good Friday, of course, the week before. Pubs are closed!
All in all, April is a fun time to go to Ireland and attractions will not be crowded, nor will traffic be as congested as summer.
Hope this helps - maybe we'll see you over there!
PAT