Almost everyone visits Ireland in the summer, but those in the know know that a winter holiday here can be particularly magical. That famous Irish hospitality found in the country's many bed and breakfasts is even warmer, with fewer guests for hosts. There are many reasons to consider visiting the Emerald Isle at least once during this season.
A Winter Wonderland (Hotels nearby)
While you might think Ireland is cold and wet all winter, it actually has a fairly moderate climate, so extreme temperatures rarely drop below zero. Some years it snows, but a dusting of the white stuff can make it even more magical, especially in places like Wicklow National Park, and chances are the sun is just around the corner. And, of course, you'll find plenty to do indoors if you don't want to bundle up and endure the cold.
Countless Cosy Pubs (Hotels nearby)
There are thousands of pubs in Ireland, 6,367 to be exact, as of last count. This makes it almost impossible to determine which is the best, but as they say 'a day in almost any pub in Ireland will be better than anything else. ' It's not just a place to have a beer or two, many guests experience local slurs or traditional tunes performed by tin accordion players and fiddlers. While many are family-friendly, with children attending sessions, there are many that also offer a wild night out. Matt Molloy's in Westport is one of the best known as owned by the famous flautist from The Chieftains. When he's not on tour, he often joins the sessions, but even when he's not, you're pretty much guaranteed to enjoy fantastic music played in an intimate venue every night of the week.
Great off-season offers (Hotels nearby)
Winter offers the opportunity for a much cheaper holiday out and about. Non-stop flying to Ireland in the summer can be very expensive, but travel during this season (outside of holidays), and you'll probably find that it's surprisingly affordable, often half the cost or even less, depending on the departure point. Accommodation rates are also usually at their lowest, so now might be the perfect time to plan a stay in one of Ireland's many wonderful hotels.
Less crowds Credit: Jeff Pioquinto, SJ Trinity College
Less Crowds (Nearby Hotels)
One of the best parts of travelling in the off-season is that you're unlikely to have to endure long queues or fight crowds. It makes visiting the country's most famous attractions much more enjoyable, as well as offering better photo opportunities. View the Book of Kells at Trinity College, visit the Guinness Storehouse and climb the narrow, winding stairs of Blarney Castle without bumping elbows with others. At the Cliffs of Moher, you may even be able to gaze out over the Atlantic and the impressive cliffs, listening to the waves crashing non-stop.
Tasty Irish stew (prices and hotel photos)
Ireland's traditional dishes seem to taste even better when there's a chill in the air, including hearty bowls of Irish stew or chowder, paired with the country's famous brown bread. While Guinness is perfect with everything on the Emerald Isle, winter is also a good time to enjoy a hot drink, such as an Irish coffee. In Dublin, some of the best places to sip one are The Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland and the Stage Bar Cafe in the Temple Bar area.
Winter Solstice in Newgrange 
Credit: K.C. Dermody Newgrange, Ireland
Winter Solstice in Newgrange
Although it only lasts 17 minutes, people travel from all over the world to visit Ireland's legendary winter solstice spectacle in Newgrange. Demand is so high that you have to be among the lucky few selected by the annual lottery to enter the mound during its extraordinary 5,000-year-old light show. Only 120 people have the privilege of standing inside to witness the extraordinary illumination that takes place on a single day, during one hour each year, with a beam of sunlight streaming down the narrow corridor leading into the chamber, flooding the stone passageway with a warm glow. This Neolithic monument is older than Stonehenge and even the Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 3200 BC. No one knows for sure what its real purpose was, but it is believed to have been a passage tomb and also a temple for the ancients who worshipped the sun.
Witness the Northern Lights
You might be surprised to learn that Mother Nature's spectacular light show, the Aurora Borealis, also visits Ireland. The Inishowen Peninsula and the entire north coast tend to be the best places to experience the Northern Lights, although they are spotted in other areas, including the Aran Islands off the west coast. While there are no guarantees, the winter season offers the best opportunities for this experience on the bucket list.
World-class museums (Hotels nearby)
When the weather is too cold to enjoy the beautiful Irish scenery, it offers the perfect excuse to go indoors and explore some of Ireland's fantastic museums, including the Book of Kells exhibition located in the magnificent Old Library building. The 9th century book is considered the country's greatest cultural treasure and the most famous medieval manuscript in the world. The National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology is a must-visit regardless of the season. It offers a fascinating glimpse back in time, including the finest collection of prehistoric gold artefacts in all of Europe, as well as splendid examples of Celtic and medieval art, such as the famous Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch. Discover multiple examples of highly complex sacred and secular metalwork dating from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, as well as finds from prehistoric and Viking Ireland. Bog bodies are also a highlight - bodies that have been mummified and preserved in bogs, some of which are thousands of years old.
