Things to Do in Ireland in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Ireland
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
50°F (10°C)
High Temp
39°F (4°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + St. Patrick's Day on March 17 turns Dublin into a proper celebration. The parade starts at Parnell Square at noon. Locals claim spots along O'Connell Street by 9am. They bring flasks of tea and sandwiches wrapped in foil. Worth the early wake-up.
- + Hotel rates are still running 30-40% below summer peaks. You'll find decent Georgian townhouses in Ballsbridge for the price of a generic chain room in July. Book now. Save cash.
- + The Atlantic puffins start returning to the Cliffs of Moher cliffs around mid-March. You'll spot them wheeling above the 214m (702 ft) drop before the summer crowds arrive. Bring binoculars. Arrive early.
- + Pub culture makes sense in March weather. The fire at Mulligan's on Poolbeg Street has been burning since 1782. There's something about the smell of peat smoke mixed with Guinness that works when it's 7°C (45°F) outside. It just feels right.
Considerations
- − You'll get four seasons in one day, sometimes in one hour. That 2.5 inches of rain spreads across 18 days, meaning you're packing wet gear even on 'nice' days. Always carry a jacket.
- − Daylight is still limited. Sunrise happens around 6:45am, sunset by 6:30pm. Your sightseeing window is shorter than you'd expect. Plan accordingly.
- − Some rural attractions keep winter hours through March. Places like Kylemore Abbey might close at 4:30pm, cutting your visit short. Check times. Arrive early.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Ireland in March is a study in contrasts. Spring fights with winter here. The air holds a damp chill, often around four degrees. Persistent mist shrouds the landscape. It softens edges and mutes colors to a palette of mossy greens and slate grays. Locals navigate the eighteen typical rainy days with ease. You will smell wet wool and peat smoke in the humid air. Do not make predictable plans. Embrace the variable conditions instead. The light feels like a revelation when it breaks through. Life quickens across Ireland as March progresses. Everything builds toward two events. The Six Nations rugby tournament reaches its end. The entire country seems to hold its breath for the final matches. In Dublin, you can hear the roar from packed pubs spill into the streets after a try. Then, everything pivots toward the seventeenth. The St. Patrick's Festival transforms Dublin. This is a genuine national celebration. The clatter of parade drums echoes off Georgian brick. Evenings bring the warm, malty taste of stout. Sessions of fiddle music last into the night. A visit now means feeling a nation stir from its winter quiet.
Cliffs of Moher, Burren and Galway City Day Tour
guided_experienceA journey along the Wild Atlantic Way in March shows a raw, elemental force. You will feel the Atlantic's full might. Gusts whip across the Cliffs of Moher. Seabirds wheel against a backdrop of churning, steel-gray waves far below. The tour winds through the stark, lunar expanse of the Burren. Its limestone pavement gleams wetly after rain. It concludes in Galway City. There, you can hear traditional music spilling from brightly painted pub doorways.
This single day captures the contrast between Ireland's untamed western edge and its most charismatic, artistic city.
Insider tip: Pack a wind-resistant layer and sturdy shoes. The exposed cliff paths are often slick. Weather shifts without warning.
This month: March light is often low and dramatic. It can create exceptional photographic conditions on the cliffs. Storms carve the sea into whitecaps.
Kilkenny, Wicklow & Glendalough Tour & Sheepdog Show
entertainmentYou will walk the narrow, cobbled streets of Kilkenny. See its black marble cathedral. Then you travel into the deep, silent heart of the Wicklow Mountains. The ruins of Glendalough rest there beside dark lakes. Skeletal winter trees fringe the shores. The day ends with the crisp whistles and eager barks of a working sheepdog demonstration. It is a spectacle of controlled chaos on a rain-freshened green field.
It connects the crafted history of a medieval city with the ancient spiritual pull of a glacial valley and the living tradition of Irish farming.
Insider tip: The sheepdog show is outdoors. Dress for the cold, damp ground. Be ready for a sudden, misty shower.
Full-Day Cliffs of Moher and Burren Guided Tour
day_tripYou will stand atop the Cliffs of Moher. Hear the thunderous crash of waves against rock. Smell the salty, iodine-rich air. Then you descend to navigate the otherworldly cracks and crevices of the Burren. Rare early flowers sometimes cling to sheltered grikes in the limestone there.
It has a guided deep-dive into two of Ireland's most well-known and geologically fascinating landscapes.
Insider tip: Request a seat on the left side of the coach. This gives the best initial views of the Atlantic coastline as you travel north.
Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise
cruiseNo land-based view can match it. The cruise from Doolin pitches on the swells of Galway Bay. Salty spray cools your face. You gaze up at the sheer, vertiginous face of the cliffs. Watch colonies of guillemots and razorbills cling to the rock. The itinerary often includes time on Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands. There you can see stone walls dissecting the island into a green and gray patchwork.
The monumental scale of the cliffs is only understood from the water, looking up at their layered, sedimentary heights.
Insider tip: Sea conditions in March can be rough. This tour is best for those with solid sea legs and warm, waterproof clothing.
Boyne Valley with Newgrange and Bru Na Boinne Entry
otherThe landscape is older than the Egyptian pyramids. You will step into the cool, dark chamber of the Newgrange passage tomb. Your breath is visible in the air. See the intricate Neolithic spirals carved into stone. They are illuminated only by the guide's light. The surrounding Boyne Valley is carpeted in vivid green pasture. Grazing sheep dot the fields. Smaller mounds hold their own secrets.
It is a direct encounter with a 5,200-year-old monument engineered with celestial precision.
Insider tip: The interior chamber of Newgrange is confined and can be chilly. It is accessed by timed ticket, so booking ahead is essential.
Dublin LGBTQ Pride Historical and Cultural Walking Tour
culturalIt is a story of resilience and celebration. You will hear stories of hidden bars and pivotal legal battles. The path winds through cobblestone streets in the city center. You will see Georgian architecture with new eyes. Feel the inclusive, welcoming atmosphere that defines modern Dublin. The guide's narrative is both personal and historically grounded. It often concludes near contemporary hubs of the community.
It reveals the compelling narrative of LGBTQ life in Ireland's capital, from repression to pride.
Insider tip: The tour operates rain or shine. An umbrella and comfortable walking shoes are necessary for March's changeable conditions.
Where to Stay in Ireland in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
March 17-20
St. Patrick's Festival Dublin
The parade starts at Parnell Square and takes 90 minutes to reach St. Patrick's Cathedral. Locals wear shamrock on their coats. Not the plastic leprechaun hats sold to tourists. The real celebration happens in pubs afterward. Musicians who marched in the morning trade their instruments for pints and start proper sessions that last until closing. This is the real deal.
Early to mid March
Six Nations Rugby
If Ireland plays at home in March, the entire city moves to a different rhythm. Kickoff at Aviva Stadium sends waves of green jerseys toward Ballsbridge from 2pm. Even if you don't have tickets, the pubs around Beggar's Bush show the match with commentary that assumes you understand the offside rule. The roar when Ireland scores reaches the city center. Feel the energy.
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View Ireland Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Order Guinness by brand name, not 'a beer' - and watch the pour. Proper Guinness takes 119.5 seconds, and any bartender worth their salt won't rush it, even when it's three deep at the bar
The DART train north to Howth costs the same as a city center bus but delivers you to cliff walks and a working fishing harbor in 25 minutes. March weekdays see trawlers unloading cod and mackerel that appears on local menus that night
Museum cafes serve better food than most tourist restaurants near Trinity - the National Gallery's restaurant does a proper Irish stew that locals eat, and it's cheaper than the places showing you 'traditional' dancing
Grafton Street buskers need auditions and licenses - the quality is good, the string quartets who play Bach when it's too cold for acoustic guitar. They pack up around 7pm when shops close
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming St. Patrick's Day is just drinking - the religious aspect still matters, and churches like St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral hold services that morning where you'll see families balancing faith and festivities
Wearing green head-to-toe - locals wear a sprig of shamrock on their coat lapel and maybe a green scarf. Full leprechaun kit marks you as American and gets eye-rolls from bartenders
Planning outdoor activities without weather backup - that 18-day rain average means always having indoor alternatives, for cliff walks that close in high winds
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