#1Skibbereen
Cork · 2,903 peopleOverall A·#35 of 320
Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living A−·lowest: health C
Skibbereen, #1 on this list · Photo: Ian Watson (CC0)Ireland · 2026
Towns with the mildest winters in Ireland
Leading the list is Skibbereen, Cork, at 7°C (45°F). The next two places belong to Clonakilty, 7°C (45°F), and Bantry, 7°C (44°F). The middle town on the list, Cahir, sits at 6°C (42°F). Last place on the list falls to Blessington, at 4°C (40°F). Between them, 3 counties supply the top ten.
Average January temperature, Met Éireann’s 1991–2020 grid How grades work
#17°C (45°F) January average
#2Clonakilty
Cork · 5,112 peopleOverall A−·#56 of 320
Strongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
#3Bantry
Cork · 2,929 peopleOverall A−·#65 of 320
Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: health C
The top 100 of 321
Ranked by its measure (January average), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
100 towns
#TownJanuary averageGrade · national rankWhat drives it
1SkibbereenCork · 2,903 people7°C (45°F)A#35 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living A−·lowest: health C
2ClonakiltyCork · 5,112 people7°C (45°F)A−#56 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
3BantryCork · 2,929 people7°C (44°F)A−#65 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: health C
4KinsaleCork · 5,991 people7°C (44°F)A#36 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D−
5TraleeKerry · 26,079 people7°C (44°F)C−#263 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability C+·lowest: hazard risk D
6BandonCork · 8,196 people7°C (44°F)A#48 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk D
7KenmareKerry · 2,566 people7°C (44°F)A−#59 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C+
8KilrushClare · 2,649 people7°C (44°F)C+#197 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk A−·lowest: health D
9CarrigtwohillCork · 5,568 people7°C (44°F)A+#5 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: walkability C
10CarrigalineCork · 18,239 people7°C (44°F)A+#17 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: walkability D
11GlounthauneCork · 5,000 people7°C (44°F)A−#70 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk D−
12MidletonCork · 13,906 people7°C (44°F)A−#78 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: walkability C−
13KillarneyKerry · 14,412 people7°C (44°F)B−#152 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
14TramoreCork · 4,803 people7°C (44°F)B−#155 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living C−
15St Luke'sCork · 4,278 people7°C (44°F)C+#189 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health B−·lowest: safety D
16TogherCork · 3,007 people7°C (44°F)C+#190 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, safety B+·lowest: health D−
17CastleislandKerry · 2,536 people7°C (44°F)A+#11 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C+
18CrosshavenCork · 3,263 people7°C (44°F)A#40 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
19BallinloughCork · 5,435 people7°C (44°F)B+#93 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
20KnockreaCork · 5,228 people7°C (44°F)B−#170 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A·lowest: safety D−
21GlasheenCork · 5,981 people7°C (44°F)C+#191 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: cost of living C−
22DungarvanWaterford · 10,081 people7°C (44°F)C+#203 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B, cost of living B−·lowest: safety C
23ListowelKerry · 4,794 people7°C (44°F)C+#208 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income D
24MahonCork · 13,892 people7°C (44°F)C#211 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, walkability B·lowest: cost of living C−
25YoughalCork · 8,564 people7°C (44°F)C#231 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C·lowest: hazard risk D−
26Turner's CrossCork · 7,208 people7°C (44°F)C#235 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B+·lowest: safety D
27ShandonCork · 3,539 people7°C (44°F)C−#261 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income B−·lowest: safety D
28GurranebraherCork · 4,502 people7°C (44°F)D#283 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income D
29GillabbeyCork · 5,857 people7°C (44°F)D#286 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income C+·lowest: safety C−
30South GateCork · 7,185 people7°C (44°F)D#291 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D−
31Cork City CentreCork · 3,701 people7°C (44°F)D−#307 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income B−·lowest: safety D−
32DouglasCork · 22,029 people6°C (44°F)A+#16 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, safety A+·lowest: walkability C−
33BallincolligCork · 21,940 people6°C (44°F)A#26 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
34Passage West-MonkstownCork · 6,051 people6°C (44°F)A#49 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health B+·lowest: hazard risk D
35GlanmireCork · 4,454 people6°C (44°F)A−#57 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D−
36InishkennyCork · 5,552 people6°C (44°F)A−#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A−·lowest: cost of living C−
37BishopstownCork · 14,529 people6°C (44°F)B+#99 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
38Sunday's WellCork · 2,807 people6°C (44°F)C#220 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B·lowest: safety C−
39KilbarryWaterford · 2,758 people6°C (44°F)C#233 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D
40LisdugganWaterford · 6,216 people6°C (44°F)D#280 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B−·lowest: safety D
41Waterford City CentreWaterford · 9,031 people6°C (44°F)D#288 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
42FarranreeCork · 3,824 people6°C (43°F)D#296 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B·lowest: health D−
43BallytruckleWaterford · 6,563 people6°C (43°F)D#297 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B−, cost of living C+·lowest: safety D
44TowerCork · 3,300 people6°C (43°F)A#38 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D−
45Greystones-DelganyWicklow · 22,009 people6°C (43°F)A−#73 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D−
46SuttonDublin · 5,789 people6°C (43°F)B+#89 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
47FerrybankKilkenny · 5,766 people6°C (43°F)B+#102 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk D−
48KilcooleWicklow · 4,569 people6°C (43°F)B+#111 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living D
49CobhCork · 14,148 people6°C (43°F)B#116 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D
50BaldoyleDublin · 7,864 people6°C (43°F)B#123 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
51DalkeyDublin · 8,275 people6°C (43°F)B#142 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
52TramoreWaterford · 11,277 people6°C (43°F)B−#146 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
53GlasnevinDublin · 9,299 people6°C (43°F)B−#157 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: safety D−
54WicklowWicklow · 12,957 people6°C (43°F)B−#176 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety B, health B·lowest: hazard risk D−
55MallowCork · 13,456 people6°C (43°F)C+#185 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, health B·lowest: hazard risk D
56ArklowWicklow · 13,399 people6°C (43°F)C+#207 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income C−
57CleaboyWaterford · 3,454 people6°C (43°F)C#227 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk D
58CourtownWexford · 4,365 people6°C (43°F)D#277 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety B+, cost of living B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
59MayfieldCork · 2,846 people6°C (43°F)D#287 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B−·lowest: health D−
60The GlenCork · 6,119 people6°C (43°F)D#304 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D
61Fair HillCork · 4,910 people6°C (43°F)D−#309 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B, walkability B−·lowest: health D−
62BallybegWaterford · 5,226 people6°C (43°F)D−#312 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living C+, hazard risk C+·lowest: safety D
63PoleberryWaterford · 4,875 people6°C (43°F)D−#313 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
64GrangeWaterford · 4,109 people6°C (43°F)D−#316 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living C+, jobs & income C·lowest: safety D
65BlarneyCork · 2,779 people6°C (43°F)A+#13 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
66MacroomCork · 4,096 people6°C (43°F)A#24 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C+
67MonkstownDublin · 9,831 people6°C (43°F)A−#52 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
68DonabateDublin · 9,669 people6°C (43°F)A−#71 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A·lowest: cost of living C−
69LehenaghCork · 4,154 people6°C (43°F)B+#96 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
70ShannonClare · 10,256 people6°C (43°F)B#120 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk C−
71SandymountDublin · 22,340 people6°C (43°F)B#141 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A−·lowest: cost of living D−
72Grantstown and BallinakillWaterford · 9,571 people6°C (43°F)B−#154 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A+·lowest: safety D
73Grand Canal DockDublin · 8,320 people6°C (43°F)C+#196 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D−
74KillineyDublin · 9,776 people6°C (43°F)C#209 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D−
75East WallDublin · 15,907 people6°C (43°F)C#236 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income B+·lowest: safety D−
76BallyboughDublin · 8,188 people6°C (43°F)D#294 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, cost of living B−·lowest: safety D−
77RathnewWicklow · 3,482 people6°C (43°F)D#302 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety B, cost of living C−·lowest: hazard risk D−
78St Stephen's GreenDublin · 5,319 people6°C (43°F)D#303 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income C+·lowest: safety D−
79PortmarnockDublin · 10,750 people6°C (43°F)A+#8 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
80SalthillGalway · 5,445 people6°C (43°F)A#20 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
81MalahideDublin · 18,608 people6°C (43°F)A#30 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D−
82BlackrockDublin · 12,816 people6°C (43°F)A#31 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
83RiverstownCork · 3,664 people6°C (43°F)A#34 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D−
84BooterstownDublin · 8,505 people6°C (43°F)A#46 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
85SkerriesDublin · 10,743 people6°C (43°F)A−#64 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A−, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C−
86LuskDublin · 8,806 people6°C (43°F)B+#84 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B+·lowest: cost of living C−
87Clontarf EastDublin · 18,626 people6°C (43°F)B+#87 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
88CabinteelyDublin · 15,864 people6°C (43°F)B+#94 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D−
89BallsbridgeDublin · 12,743 people6°C (43°F)B+#100 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
90Clontarf WestDublin · 15,296 people6°C (43°F)B+#105 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
91RahenyDublin · 8,734 people6°C (43°F)B+#107 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
92SixmilebridgeClare · 2,832 people6°C (43°F)B+#109 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: walkability D−
93SallynogginDublin · 13,245 people6°C (43°F)B+#110 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
94RushDublin · 10,875 people6°C (43°F)B#119 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C
95FarranshoneLimerick · 7,874 people6°C (43°F)B#122 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, health A−·lowest: safety C−
96BelmayneDublin · 15,047 people6°C (43°F)B#124 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability A−·lowest: safety C
97Dún LaoghaireDublin · 17,994 people6°C (43°F)B#125 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D
98Grange UpperWaterford · 2,510 people6°C (43°F)B#144 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: safety D
99BrayWicklow · 33,512 people6°C (43°F)B−#159 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health B·lowest: cost of living C
100DrumcondraDublin · 11,149 people6°C (43°F)B−#162 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D
Method
How this list is made
Average January temperature, Met Éireann’s 1991–2020 grid. Towns of 2,500 or more in Ireland are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work
Rankings
More lists across Ireland
County by county
Best places to live, county by county
Photos: Skibbereen, Ian Watson (CC0) · Clonakilty, Jeff Horne (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Bantry, Colin Park (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Irish towns against each other only, run #65 of 8 November 2026. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).