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Kylemore Abbey Castle, Ireland

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Ireland weather, climate and geography

Weather & climate

Best time to visit: 

Ireland's temperate climate is due to mild southwesterly winds and the Gulf Stream. Summers are warm, while temperatures during winter are much cooler. Spring and autumn are very mild, with rainfall expected all year round.

Required clothing: 

Lightweights during summer with warmer mediumweights for the winter. Rainwear is advisable throughout the year.

Geography

The Republic of Ireland lies in the north Atlantic Ocean and is separated from Britain by the Irish Sea to the east. The northeastern part of the island (Northern Ireland) is part of the United Kingdom.

Ireland has a central plain surrounded by a rim of mountains and hills offering some of the most varied and unspoilt scenery in Europe - quiet sandy beaches, semi-tropical bays warmed by the Gulf Stream, and rugged cliffs make up the 5,600km (3,500 miles) of coastline.

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