Winter
Dec → Feb7 to 8°
nights 3 to 4°
- 21 rainy days · 164 mm
- 3.8 h of sun
- sea 9°
When is the best time to visit Donegal?
- Jan7°not recommended
- Feb8°not recommended
- Mar9°not recommended
- Apr11°fair
- May15°recommended
- Jun17°recommended
- Jul17°recommended
- Aug17°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct13°fair
- Nov10°not recommended
- Dec8°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Donegal, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | 3° | 3.4 h | 155 mm | 21 d | 9° | |
| February | 8° | 3° | 5.1 h | 160 mm | 20 d | 8° | |
| March | 9° | 3° | 6.8 h | 139 mm | 19 d | 9° | |
| April | 11° | 5° | 9.1 h | 91 mm | 16 d | 10° | |
| May | 15° | 8° | 10.6 h | 112 mm | 17 d | 12° | ✓ |
| June | 17° | 11° | 10.2 h | 129 mm | 19 d | 15° | ✓ |
| July | 17° | 12° | 9.4 h | 159 mm | 21 d | 15° | ✓ |
| August | 17° | 12° | 9.2 h | 194 mm | 22 d | 16° | ✓ |
| September | 16° | 10° | 7.4 h | 141 mm | 18 d | 16° | ✓ |
| October | 13° | 8° | 5.5 h | 180 mm | 20 d | 14° | |
| November | 10° | 5° | 3.9 h | 153 mm | 20 d | 12° | |
| December | 8° | 4° | 2.9 h | 178 mm | 21 d | 11° |
The four seasons in Donegal, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Donegal (town)) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May9 to 15°
nights 3 to 8°
- 17 rainy days · 114 mm
- 8.8 h of sun
- sea 10°
Summer
Jun → Aug17°
nights 11 to 12°
- 21 rainy days · 161 mm
- 9.6 h of sun
- sea 15°
Autumn
Sep → Nov10 to 16°
nights 5 to 10°
- 19 rainy days · 158 mm
- 5.6 h of sun
- sea 14°
Book early for May to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
Daylight in Donegal, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 17h15 of daylight, in December 7h16, a difference of 9h59.
7h48Jan
9h37Feb
11h40Mar
14hApr
16h03May
17h15Jun
16h45Jul
14h55Aug
12h37Sep
10h22Oct
8h19Nov
7h16Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Donegal (town)" (54.65°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Donegal, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 2 | 1 |
EventsDonegal International RallyJuneEaragail Arts FestivalJulyMary from DungloeJuly to AugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Long days: April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Donegal, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JuneDonegal International Rally big crowds
Three days of rallying on closed roads around Letterkenny, with thousands of spectators lining the verges.
- JulyEaragail Arts Festival
Two weeks of theatre, music and street arts spread across Letterkenny, the Gaeltacht and the islands.
- July to AugustMary from Dungloe
Dungloe lines up concerts, traditional music sessions and the selection of a young woman from the county, in late July.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended7°3° at night
- 155 mm · 21 d
- 3.4 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended8°3° at night
- 160 mm · 20 d
- 5.1 h
- sea 8°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended9°3° at night
- 139 mm · 19 d
- 6.8 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair11°5° at night
- 91 mm · 16 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended15°8° at night
- 112 mm · 17 d
- 10.6 h
- sea 12°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended17°11° at night
- 129 mm · 19 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
July
Recommended17°12° at night
- 159 mm · 21 d
- 9.4 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
August
Recommended17°12° at night
- 194 mm · 22 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 16°
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°10° at night
- 141 mm · 18 d
- 7.4 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair13°8° at night
- 180 mm · 20 d
- 5.5 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended10°5° at night
- 153 mm · 20 d
- 3.9 h
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended8°4° at night
- 178 mm · 21 d
- 2.9 h
- sea 11°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 155 mm of rain over 21 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.4 h a day). Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 8 °C at best, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 160 mm of rain over 20 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.1 h a day). Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 9 °C at best, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 139 mm of rain over 19 days. Expect 6.8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 11 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Frequent rain: 91 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 15 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 112 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Cool: 17 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Frequent rain: 129 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
July. Cool: 17 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 159 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 17 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 194 mm over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Frequent rain: 141 mm over 18 days. Expect 7.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 13 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 180 mm over 20 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.5 h a day). Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 10 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 153 mm of rain over 20 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.9 h a day). Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 8 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 178 mm of rain over 21 days. Very little sun: 2.9 h a day on average. Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Donegal?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 15 to 17 °C, with 19 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Donegal (town)).
Which month should you avoid in Donegal?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 178 mm over 21 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Donegal (town)).
What is the hottest month in Donegal?
June, with 17 °C on average in the afternoon and 11 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Donegal (town)).
What is the coldest month in Donegal?
January, with 7 °C at best during the day and 3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Donegal (town)).
What is the driest month in Donegal?
April: 91 mm over 16 days of rain, against 194 mm in August, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Donegal?
May, with 10.6 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Donegal?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 16 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Slieve League cliffs): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Donegal guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Ireland: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Le sixième rêve / Pexels