Updated September 2025–October in Ireland is a good time to visit if you want to explore the Emerald Isle without the crowds that are usually common during the summer months and to avail of the lower prices in accommodation and airfares that are common between now and early spring.
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But just because it’s the off-season doesn’t mean there’s less to do and see at this time of year.
Here are 18 things to do if you find yourself in Ireland in October.
1. The Dublin Theatre Festival (Sept. 25-Oct. 12)
If you plan to visit Dublin in October, you should sample the city’s artistic and cultural offerings.
Famous playwrights like Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, John Millington Synge, and George Bernard Shaw all called Dublin home for a time.
The 2025 Dublin Theatre Festival, which is currently on through Oct. 12th, is a good example of the cultural richness of the city.
The festival highlights a mix of musical performances, theater, opera and more. Here is a look at what’s on.
2. The Great Book of Ireland (through Nov. 2)
If you’re visiting Cork City, why not pop into the Glucksman Gallery at University College Cork?
Now through Nov. 2nd, you can view The Great Book of Ireland, described as an “extraordinary vellum manuscript” that contains the work of 120 artists, 140 poets and nine composers.
All of the contributors to the book were asked to convey their hopes, joys, fears and their feelings of love as Irish people as the year 2000 approached.
Former President Mary Robinson described it as the “Book of Kells of the second millennium.”
Contributors included Samuel Beckett, Eavan Boland, Cecily Brennan, Louis le Brocquy, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Barrie Cooke, Dorothy Cross, Daniel Day-Lewis, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Seamus Heaney, Eithne Jordan, Michael Longley, John Montague, Tony O’Malley, Kathy Prendergast, and Patrick Scott.
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3. Derry Halloween Festival (Oct. 28-31)
October in Ireland wouldn’t be the same without a good Halloween celebration.
The great “Samhain gathering” in the city of Derry has grown over the years, making it Europe’s biggest Halloween festival.
For three nights beginning Oct. 28th, you can get into the spirit of Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions, which incorporates the old pagan festival known as Samhain (pronounced “sow-in” like the female pig).
In pre-Christian Ireland, that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Derry’s iconic 17th-century walls are central to the celebration. Expect to see them brought to life with various spooky, colorful characters and animations being projected throughout the city center.
Along the trail, hear tales from the past, walk near haunted windows and alleys and enjoy performances from local and international artists.
At the city’s Guildhall, you’ll be transported back in time to a land of myths, legends, warriors, and witches. Of course, no festival is complete without music, food, and a parade at the end.
A full program of events is available on the festival website.
4. Enjoy the Arts and Writing in Waterford (Oct. 21-26)
The Imagine Arts Festival, a 6-day celebration of theater, music, comedy, the visual arts, dance, literature, film, and activities for children will take place in Waterford City from Oct. 21st to the 26th.
Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include Artists-in-Residence Ksenia Parkhatskaya and Dave Duffy, commissioned composer Phil Christie, and Waterford’s own Keith Dunphy performing his acclaimed one-man show, Word Against the Word.
The Waterford Writers Weekend is also taking place at the same time. It showcases the best of Irish writing and includes workshops, exhibitions, talks and more.
5. Experience Jazz in County Cork (Oct. 23-27)
October in Ireland means the opportunity to attend some great jazz festivals and two of them happen to be only a few miles apart in County Cork.
The popular Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is set to begin on Oct. 23rd and over the space of five days, will entertain with a range of local and international performers.
The Guinness Kinsale Jazz Fringe Festival, set to take place from Oct. 24th through Oct. 27th, promises to be a more leisurely celebration of the popular music genre.
Events are being planned at some 20 venues throughout the town, and there will be a scary, ghoulish, and decisively Halloween feel about them too, the organizers say.
6. Footsteps in the Forest (Oct. 20-26)
Head to Slieve Gullion Forest Park in County Armagh, a popular spot for those who want to explore nature and this beautiful part of Northern Ireland.
Footsteps in the Forest is a Halloween-themed festival that aims to transport participants into a “realm of mystery, blending history and enchantment in a truly immersive experience.”
Eerie woodland trails, spellbinding storytelling, theatrical performances, as well as having access to seasonal treats and artisanal delights are just some of the fun activities you can expect at this popular event.
Visit the park from 6-10 pm between Oct. 20th and Oct. 26th to experience it all.
If you can get there earlier in the day, the scenic 8-mile (10 km) drive around the slopes of Slieve Gullion (a Special Area of Conservation) is totally worth it and will give you spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
For the more adventurous, an 8.7-mile (14 km) walk can be completed by taking mountain paths, forest trails and country roads. Begin the trek in the main car park.
There’s also an Adventure Playpark and the Giant’s Lair children’s story trail for kids to enjoy.
The park is free to visit.
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7. Open House Dublin (Oct. 11-19)
Enjoy Ireland’s biggest architecture festival in Dublin over the weekend of Oct. 11th to the 19th.
Open House Dublin is a free festival of architecture with 100+ guided tours, films, exhibitions and events taking place across the city.
Learn about the architectural details in some of Ireland’s most beautiful buildings, including Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of the president of Ireland; Farmleigh House, which is located in Phoenix Park and was once the home of the Guinness family before it was purchased by the Irish government; The Casino Model Railway Museum described as one of the finest thatched cottages in Ireland; the Chester Beatty Clock Tower Building, and much more.
Tours are all free and are provided by professionals, including architects, planners, and students of archaeology, as well as those who live in or use the buildings.
A series of lectures will also be available over the weekend, in addition to guided walking, cycling, and Luas tours, exploring Dublin’s architecture along its commuter routes.
You can find a whole list of activities that are planned for this year’s festival on its website.
8. Baboró: International Arts Festival for Children (Oct. 10-19)
If you’re in Galway City from Oct. 10th through the 19th, check out this unique festival geared toward kids
A complete program of events that include theater, circus and other types of performances can be found on the festival website.
9. Galway Comedy Festival (Oct. 21-27)
There is always a lot to do in Galway City at any time of year.
If you’re looking for a fun night out, why not attend the Galway Comedy Festival, the largest in Europe?
Expect to see up to 100 performers at this year’s event, which will be held from Oct. 21st to the 27th.
This year’s program will include comedic performances from Dylan Moran, Aoife Dunne, Aideen McQueen, Karl Spain, and more.
10. Explore West Cork on the Ring of Beara Drive
This drive located in West Cork’s Beara Peninsula, is another piece of wild, beautiful countryside in Ireland that you should include in your Ireland road trip itinerary in October if you have a rental car.
The route runs through Counties Cork and Kerry but is less well-known than the neighboring Ring of Kerry.
About 130 kilometers (80 miles) in length, it is doable in a day and can be completed in about 4 hours.
You can begin the Ring of Beara in either Glengarrif in County Cork or in Kenmare, County Kerry.
Perhaps one of the most stunning parts of the Ring of Beara is the Healy Pass, which winds its way through some of County Cork’s most isolated countryside and up and across the Caha Mountains, listed as a Special Area of Conservation.
The road itself was constructed in 1847 at the height of Ireland’s Great Famine as a way to provide work for the poor, starving local people. It was named after Timothy Healy, the first governor general of the Irish Free State.
If you’re looking for Atlantic views off the Ring of Beara, you’ll find them in Eyeries and in Allihies.
11. Enjoy a Cliff Walk in Howth
Dublin Bay in October is the perfect place to stretch your legs and see what’s outside the city.
Take a hiking tour with Howth Adventures for stunning views of the bay or a panoramic e-bike tour of the region, also with Howth Adventures. You could also take a stroll through the pretty seaside communities of Dalkey and Killiney, home to a number of Irish celebrities.
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12. Hang out in Dublin’s Temple Bar
Despite it being a tourist trap, the Temple Bar section of the city is still a huge draw for many.
The street is known for its music-filled pubs and talented buskers, and in October, it won’t be teeming with as many tourists as it is during the summer months.
Call into the Icon Factory, an artist’s co-operative, sample some foodie delights at the Temple Bar Food Market and step into the past with a drink in the 19th-century Victorian heritage bar known as The Palace Bar.
13. Dingle Food Festival (Oct. 3-5)
This County Kerry culinary extravaganza takes place this year between Oct. 3rd and Oct. 5th.
If you plan to visit the Dingle Peninsula, be sure to attend this popular event where you can sample food from a variety of Dingle’s excellent restaurants and bars.
Other highlights of the festival include cookery demonstrations, over 50 market stalls, workshops, street entertainment, wine tastings, children’s events, and more.
Like its neighbor Kinsale to the east, Dingle is known for its culinary reputation.
There are a multitude of restaurants there, as well as a host of pubs selling craft beers and whiskeys, together with a culinary school, and a distillery.
Some of the popular ones on the Taste Trail include James Long’s Bar & Restaurant, the Land to Sea Restaurant, Lord Baker’s, and Fenton’s of Dingle, among others.
14. Sligo Live (Oct. 23-Nov. 2)
This popular annual festival held in Sligo town will take place this year from Oct. 23rd to Nov. 2nd.
It celebrates traditional, roots, and acoustic music and the connections between Sligo and musicians abroad.
The bond with New York’s trad musicians is strong in Sligo given that one of the county’s musical greats, Michael Coleman, emigrated to New York in the 1920s where he went on to record under various record labels. You can learn more about Coleman at the Coleman Irish Music Centre in Gurteen, Co. Sligo.
There is also a link between Sligo and Scotland, namely Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival, which presents a Scottish program each year.
Some of the performers you can expect to see as part of this year’s lineup include accordionist Sharon Shannon and her band, Luka Bloom, and Kathy Jordan’s Crankie Island, among others, with many performances taking place at the popular Hawks Well Theatre.
15. Kerry International Film Festival (Oct. 16-19)
If you’re visiting County Kerry in October, be sure to check out the Kerry International Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 16th to the 19th.
The festival celebrates its 26th edition this year, with four days of screenings and events, including international feature film showings, documentaries, short films, industry discussions, and special presentations.
16. Explore Lough Gur, County Limerick
While Newgrange in County Meath is by far the more popular of Ireland’s ancient archaeological sites, Lough Gur in the heart of the County Limerick countryside is also worth a visit if you’re in Ireland in October.
There is plenty of evidence that humans have been living around Lough Gur since about 3,000 B.C.
The Grange Stone Circle, which is the largest one of its kind in Ireland, as well as a dolmen, are located near the lake, in addition to the remains of at least three crannogs.
Stone Age houses and a number of ring forts also point to an ancient civilization that survived and thrived here.
In addition to its archaeological significance, Lough Gur has also been designated a Wildfowl Sanctuary by the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service and you will see a wide variety of birds in the area, including gulls, songbirds, crows, dragonflies, and more.
Tourists who visit Lough Gur can first stop at the award-winning Heritage Centre. The center’s exhibits tell the story of Lough Gur through audio guides, interactive touchscreens, and more.
Curious to know what to expect from a visit to Lough Gur? You can now take a virtual tour of the site and listen to experts talk about the significance of the area.
17. Bram Stoker Festival (Oct. 31-Nov. 3)
While this popular festival, now in its 11th year, is at the tail end of October, if you’re around, this is most definitely worth checking out.
Its “four days and nights of deadly adventures” will surely thrill all those who love Gothic adventures and who are fans of Bram Stoker, the Dublin-born author of Dracula.
As in years past, the festival provides plenty of entertainment for young and old, including film screenings, discussions, and walking tours of Dublin’s dark side, specifically the sites most closely associated with Stoker (Marsh’s Library, Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and more).
A full line-up of festival events will be released on Oct. 1st.
18. Explore Killarney National Park in October
Killarney National Park, one of six national parks in Ireland, has the largest stretch of native woodland remaining in Ireland and is indicative of how the country might have looked thousands of years ago before deforestation.
In the autumn light, the woodlands are spectacular.
The park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, contains several native oak and yew woodlands as well as evergreen trees, shrubs, and lichens that are well suited to the local climate.
There’s much to see and do in the park, but taking a horse and trap ride through the park is a nice way to experience the fall colors.
Other activities that are popular within Killarney National Park include a self-guided bike tour, taking a combination jaunting car ride and boat cruise of the lakes, bird watching, horse riding through the park, and fishing in Lough Leane, all of which are weather-dependent at this time of year given the cooler temperatures.
Muckross House & Gardens is a popular attraction that is located within the park and a great attraction to visit if it is raining or just too chilly.
Take a guided tour of the 19th-century Victorian mansion, where Queen Victoria stayed in 1861. Be sure to also visit the Muckross Traditional Farms, where you’ll see the many farming practices that were common in rural Ireland during the 1930s and ‘40s.
Does October in Ireland seem like a good time for a vacation? Let me know in the comments below.
