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Ireland

Kilkenny

City break

Kilkenny at a glance

Best time
Jun – Sep
Warmest month
Jul · 19°
Sunshine a year
1,330 h
Rain a year
848 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
48 m

Climate in Kilkenny

Kilkenny has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,330 hours of sunshine a year, Kilkenny is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 5.7 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

39

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: June – September

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 8°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 13°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 11°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 10°

07:5318:37

Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:31–08:40 · evening 17:49–18:58
Blue hour
Morning 07:18–07:31 · evening 18:58–19:11

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Kilkenny in October?

In October, Kilkenny is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 44 min07:53 – 18:37
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
76 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+1Europe/Dublin

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 50 %55 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %2 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 30 %36 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Kilkenny

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,330 hours
Sunniest month
May · 5.7 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.5 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.1 hDaylight 10.7 hShare of daylight 29 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.1 of 10.7 hours of daylight in Kilkenny, 29 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Kilkenny

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 75 min
Fair skin
about 95 min
Light brown skin
over 2 h
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Kilkenny: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
848 mm on 143 days
Wettest month
Oct · 94 mm
Driest month
Feb · 60 mm
OctoberRainy days 13Rainfall 94 mm

In October, Kilkenny has about 13 rainy days with 94 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Kilkenny

How breezy and how cloudy Kilkenny is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
19 km/h · light breeze
Windiest month
Feb · 22 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 17 km/h
OctoberWind 21 km/hBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Kilkenny typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
74 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Apr · 70 %
Cloudiest month
Jul · 77 %
OctoberCloud cover 76 %Sunshine 3.1 h

In October, cloud covers on average 76 % of the sky over Kilkenny: mostly cloudy, with about 3.1 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Kilkenny

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°

CoolOctober: nights around 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in July (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 14°Night 8°
DayNight
MonthScoreDayNightSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan138°3°1.8 h1272
FebruaryFeb178°3°2.5 h1160
MarchMar2410°3°3.3 h1261
AprilApr4012°5°5.0 h1265
MayMay5615°8°5.7 h1365
JuneJun7118°11°5.5 h1168
JulyJul6819°12°4.6 h1266
AugustAug6919°12°4.6 h1273
SeptemberSep6217°10°3.9 h1164
OctoberOct3914°8°3.1 h1394
NovemberNov2310°5°2.2 h1282
DecemberDec138°3°1.5 h1280

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

52.65° N, 7.25° W · 48 m · Europe/Dublin

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Kilkenny

The best time to visit Kilkenny is from June to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June and from August to September. Rain is most frequent from April to May and in July and from October to January; the wettest month is October with 94 mm.

Kilkenny through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Kilkenny in spring

Mar – May

40

Fair

  • 10–15 °C by day
  • 5 h of sun a day
  • 37 rainy days in all

Kilkenny in summer

Jun – Aug

69

Good

  • 18–19 °C by day
  • 5 h of sun a day
  • 35 rainy days in all

Kilkenny in autumn

Sep – Nov

41

Fair

  • 10–17 °C by day
  • 3 h of sun a day
  • 36 rainy days in all

Kilkenny in winter

Dec – Feb

14

Poor

  • 8 °C by day
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 35 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Kilkenny for you.

Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: June – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Kilkenny

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

June has the better holiday weather in Kilkenny: score 71 against 39. In June, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. June has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in June.

October vs. June, Kilkenny
MonthOctoberJune
Weather score3971better
Day high14°18°
Night low8°11°
Sunshine3.1 h5.5 hbetter
Rainy days1311better
Rainfall94 mm68 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No sea nearby

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

Jun, Aug – Sep

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Apr – May, Jul, Oct – Jan

12 or more rainy days

Kilkenny month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

13January8° · 2 h

In January, Kilkenny is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in January
17February8° · 3 h

In February, Kilkenny is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in February
24March10° · 3 h

In March, Kilkenny is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in March
40April12° · 5 h

In April, Kilkenny is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in April
56May15° · 6 h

In May, Kilkenny is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in May
71June18° · 6 h

In June, Kilkenny is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 68 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in June
68July19° · 5 h

In July, Kilkenny is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in July
69August19° · 5 h

In August, Kilkenny is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in August
62September17° · 4 h

In September, Kilkenny is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in September
39October14° · 3 h

In October, Kilkenny is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in October
23November10° · 2 h

In November, Kilkenny is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in November
13December8° · 2 h

In December, Kilkenny is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 80 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny in December
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Kilkenny compared

Put Kilkenny side by side with another destination.

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Kilkenny vs. Waterford

In October the holiday weather in Kilkenny and Waterford is about equally good (score 39 vs. 37). During the day it is about as warm in Waterford as in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny vs. Waterford, in October
in OctoberKilkennyWaterford
Holiday score3937
Daytime high14°14°
Sunshine3 h3 h
Rainy days1315
Best timeJun – SepJun – Sep

Through the year

OctoberKilkenny 14°Waterford 14°
KilkennyWaterford
Go to Waterford
Ranking

Ireland in October: the best places

In October, Kilkenny ranks 2 of 18 destinations in this country.

  1. Dublin14°14°40
  2. 2KilkennyThis page14°39
  3. 3Cork14°14°39
  4. 4Waterford14°37
  5. 5Killarney14°36
  6. 6Limerick14°34
  7. 7Bray14°14°9
  8. 8Dún Laoghaire14°14°9
All destinations: Ireland

Planning a trip to Kilkenny

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Kilkenny in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Kilkenny has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 69) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 13).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    35

    Poor

    • 12 °C by day
    • 4.5 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    59

    Fair

    • 16 °C by day
    • 5.7 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    69

    GoodBest holidays

    • 19 °C by day
    • 4.6 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    39

    Poor

    • 14 °C by day
    • 3.1 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    13

    Poor

    • 8 °C by day
    • 1.7 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
480 km
Time zone
UTC+1
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Kilkenny

When is the best time to visit Kilkenny?

The best time to visit Kilkenny is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

What is the warmest month in Kilkenny?

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.

When does it rain most in Kilkenny?

Rain is most frequent from April to May and in July and from October to January; the wettest month is October with 94 mm. The driest month is February with 60 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Kilkenny get?

Kilkenny gets around 1,330 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 5.7 hours a day; in December there are 1.5 hours a day.

What time zone is Kilkenny in?

Kilkenny uses the time zone Europe/Dublin: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Kilkenny?

Kilkenny has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 69) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 13). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 35, May half-term 59, Summer holidays 69, October half-term 39, Christmas holidays 13.

Near Kilkenny

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Kilkenny

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Kilkenny's – good alternatives.

  1. 91% similar38WrexhamUnited Kingdom13°Best time: Jun – Sep
  2. 89% similar42YorkUnited Kingdom14°Best time: May – Sep
  3. 89% similar40WolverhamptonUnited Kingdom14°Best time: Jun – Sep
  4. 88% similar41BirminghamUnited Kingdom14°Best time: May – Sep