Kilkenny weather in December

December in Kilkenny: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Kilkenny🇮🇪 Ireland · British Isles · City53
  1. 56Jan
  2. 60Feb
  3. 66Mar
  4. 75Apr
  5. 83May
  6. 87Jun
  7. 89Jul
  8. 86Aug
  9. 78Sep
  10. 69Oct
  11. 61Nov
  12. 53Dec

#12 of 12 months in Kilkenny · #1105 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 53/100 (tier D)

Days
9°C
Nights
4°C
Wet days
13
Sun
2.9 h
Humidity
90%
Daylight
8 h
Kilkenny, Ireland
Photo: Jay's Photography · Pexels

Traveller notes on Kilkenny in December

Other months in Kilkenny

Forum posters describe January in Ireland as bringing a better-than-average chance of snow and real ice risk, with main and most secondary roads gritted but minor roads still requiring caution. Posters are direct that the biggest practical issue is how short the days run, with some days barely seeming to get properly light at all, and typical temperatures sitting in the 40sF (around 4-9C) alongside wet, drizzly conditions. Posters specifically recommend Kilkenny as a well-suited January destination since it's easily reached from Dublin and every attraction can be covered on foot, making it a practical, compact city pick for winter's short daylight hours. Posters generally recommend leaning on Kilkenny's walkable city center, pubs and indoor sites as the main plan for a January visit rather than fighting the weather.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum regulars call July Ireland's driest month on paper, but still expect drizzle - one visitor described hail, strong winds, thunder and sun all within 8 hours, and the recurring line is that a forecast is only reliable about 48 hours out at best. The standard packing list: a light jacket and sweater for cool nights, proper rain gear with a hooded waterproof top rather than an umbrella (which regulars call impractical in Irish towns and cities). July also draws the year's biggest crowds to nearby tourist hubs like Killarney, with several posters suggesting September instead for a similar climate with noticeably fewer visitors.
Tripadvisor community · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Kilkenny climate normals — December

Daytime high9°C / 48°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low4°C / 40°F
Feels like (high)6°C / 43°F
Rainfall85 mm / 3.3 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days13 days
Humidity90%💦 very humid
Dew point5°C / 41°F
Sunshine2.9 h/day
Daylight7.7 h
Wind21 km/h / 13 mph
Snowfall1.3 cm / 0.5 in
Air quality (US AQI)31🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Kilkenny in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsYulefest Christmas market, Christmas break in Ireland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Kilkenny's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Toughest weatherKilkenny's weather peaks June–August, best around July.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Kilkenny in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Festival

    Yulefest Christmas market

    26 Nov – 23 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

    A free Christmas market sets up beside Kilkenny Castle on weekends from late November, with extra market days in the last days before Christmas. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Kilkenny — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Kilkenny?

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Kilkenny in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Kilkenny?
December in Kilkenny: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Kilkenny on SeasonMap's comfort score (53/100).
What is the weather like in Kilkenny in December?
In December, Kilkenny averages a daily high of 8.7°C and a low of 4.2°C, with about 84.9 mm of rain over roughly 13.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Kilkenny in December?
Kilkenny has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 31 in December.
Does it snow in Kilkenny in December?
Kilkenny sees roughly 1.3 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Killarney's Christmas in Killarney around 20 Nov – 31 Dec, and Dingle's Other Voices around 28 Nov – 10 Dec.