What is the highest temperature ever seen in Ireland?

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025 - 07:56

Steve Neville

With Met Éireann issuing a high temperature warning for the weekend, the mercury is set to hit highs of close to 30C over the coming days.

That brings us within touching distance of the all-time Irish high of 33.3C, set in Kilkenny Castle in 1887.

Ireland is highly unusual in that the hottest-ever recorded temperature here occurred in the 19th century, as opposed to other countries which have shattered their records in recent decades.

When asked previously about the record, Met Éireann told the Irish Examiner that it stood by the 1887 record.

It said Ireland’s highest shaded air temperature of 33.3C, recorded on Sunday, June 26, 1887, occurred during a short period of extreme temperatures and unusual weather focused over the Midlands and the south west of Ireland at the time.

The thermometer at Kilkenny Castle was housed to acceptable standards and was certified as accurate, therefore the observation is considered to have a high level of accuracy and reliability, it added.

High temperature warning

Meanwhile, the entire country will be under a status yellow high temperature warning this weekend.

A warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon and Tipperary will be in place from midday on Friday until 6am on Saturday.

A nationwide high temperature warning will be in place from 12pm on Saturday until 6am on Sunday.

Met Éireann said: "Maximum temperatures in excess of 27C combined with night-time minima in excess of 15C expected."

The potential impacts include:

Water safety issues due to increased use of lakes/beaches;
Forest fires;
Uncomfortable sleeping conditions;
Heat stress.

More generally, temperatures are set to hit highs of 29C on Friday with a "sunny, dry and very warm" day in store. It will be very mild tonight with temperatures of 14C to 17C.

Saturday will be another very warm day with clear skies and plenty of sunshine throughout. Met Éireann said temperatures will hit 26C to 29C or 30C, with the warmest temperatures being inland away from the coast.

It will again be mild on Saturday night with lowest temperatures of 14C to 17C.

Sunday will start "out largely fine and dry with good sunny spells and mostly light winds". However, cloud will build from the west with outbreaks of rain pushing in across Atlantic coastal counties. It will again be warm with highest temperatures of 22C to 28C.

Sunday night will see outbreaks of rain begin to push in from the southwest with some heavy and blustery showers at times too. It will be "quite mild" thought with lowest temperatures of 14C to 17C.

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