Dublin has its own microclimate and is warmer than other east coast towns

Dublin livens up after dark, so November's long nights can be ideal

The west of Ireland has double the rainfall of Dublin

Be prepared for sunshine, showers and fine misty rain than can last for hours

Dublin city breaks will never be popular because of the weather. It rains on half the days of the year - although that actually makes Dublin drier than London!

Summer temperatures in Dublin are good for comfortable walking with an average in July and August of about 20C with heatwaves rare but they do occur - 2003 and 2006 saw summer temperatures soar.

Dublin weather is, as you may have heard, notoriously unreliable. It maybe drier than most of the Emerald Isle but Dublin city breaks are likely to be wet, at least some of the time - it rains an average 185 days a year.

And when it rains, it rains horizontally so be prepared and take rainwear on your Dublin city break, although there should always be a pub nearby you can nip into to escape a downpour.

If you're travelling by ship to Dublin, you'll should check the weather for the Irish Sea. It can get very rough.

Dublin city climate

Dublin weather sees mild winters and cool summers but, on the bright side, mid-summer days are very long (up to 18 hours of daylight).

December is the wettest month, February the driest month (probably just because it's the shortest) and the rest of the rain is spread pretty evenly through the year.

Snow is relatively rare - averaging four days a year - with hail more common. Thunderstorms are most likely in late summer.

Dublin city events

January/February: International sports events, notably rugby matches against the three teams from Britain plus France and Italy, mean Dublin can be packed over several weekends.

February/March: Dublin Film Festival is held at many cinemas and other venues.

March: St Patrick's Day Parade on 17th March, a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. St Patrick's day celebrations now extend over four days and 700,000 have attended recent parades in Dublin. Marching bands come to Dublin from all over the world for the parade.

March/April: Dublin Feis Ceoil - a traditional music festival is held at the Royal Dublin Showground (RDS), Ballsbridge.

April: Festival of Early Irish Music at venues throughout Dublin.

May: Spring Show & Garden Festival at the Royal Dublin Showground (RDS) Ballsbridge.

June: Bloomsday - celebration of James Joyce and his novel, Ulysses.

June: Irish Derby horse race at the Curragh, Co. Kildare.

June - August - Irish Studies Summer School at Trinity College Dublin.

July: Pipe Band Championship at various Dublin venues

July: Dun Laoghaire Festival and Blackrock Summer Festival

August: Dublin Horse Show at Royal Dublin Showground (RDS) Ballsbridge

September: All-Ireland Hurling and All-Ireland Football Finals at Croke Park - these great Irish sports events attract huge numbers to Dublin.

September - October - Dublin Theatre Festival. Enjoy the best of Irish and international theatre at venues throughout Dublin.