Ω Are you worried about hay fever or other pollen allergy problems when you visit Ireland? Travelers with seasonal allergies need to know when pollen and other allergens peak in the places they will be visiting. You may be able to change your visit to a less troublesome season. If you cannot change the dates of your visit, you will want to be able to monitor allergy reports and be prepared with necessary medications.
Preparing to travel to Ireland with allergies
It’s always a good idea to pack your regular allergy medicine when you go on a trip, even outside of what you consider to be true pollen season. This is especially true for travelers visiting the southern hemisphere who will find that the seasons are reversed.
Pollen count in Ireland can send you to the nearest Irish pharmacy for relief without a prescription. If you have asthma, you should seek information on how to get medical help and keep your fellow travelers informed in the event of a serious attack.
General allergy seasons in Ireland
Early summer is the worst time for hay fever in Ireland, starting in June, although it can start in mid-May in warmer parts of the country or in warmer years. Grass pollen is the most prevalent allergen in Ireland, being the least common grass pollen with little tree pollen. Green areas in the countryside will be worse for pollen than the city or coastal areas. The pollen count peaks in the afternoon or evening, so it is best to avoid being outside at these times if you are particularly sensitive.
In peak months, various types of pollen for the whole of the UK and Ireland are:
- March: alder, hazel, yew, willow, elm, poplar.
- April: ash, birch, oak.
- May: grass, oak, pine, rape, plane.
- June: grass, nettle, spring, lime, banana.
- July: mugwort, nettle, grass.
- August: mugwort
Pollen and allergy forecasts for Ireland
For information on pollen counts in Ireland, here are reliable sources:
- I learned about Éireann pollen information – this site does not continually update data throughout the year, only in peak allergen seasons, but it is generally the most reliable source. The information comes from the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, the people who measure pollen count where it matters. The site contains forecasts and current counts of tree, grass, weed and spore allergens. However, it is presented by provinces in Ireland, not by counties, which can make it difficult for a traveler to interpret.
- Asthma Society of Ireland: This site offers a pollen monitoring service from April to November (as well as medical information) that is especially aimed at asthma sufferers. They also divide the information among the four provinces, color-coded for low, moderate, high, and very high pollen. There is also a Learn More button that may reveal items such as that the level of fungal spores is expected to increase.
- Met Office (UK) Pollen Forecast – This site is very similar to Met Éireann’s pollen information service, but with a focus on the UK (in other words, Northern Ireland). His forecast for Northern Ireland occasionally differs from the Irish forecast for Ulster (which is logical, as the latter covers more ground).
- Accuweather.com – This site provides you with pollen forecasting at a more local level. Select a location to view the weather, and then select “Custom Forecasts – Allergies.” A great advantage of this site is that you can select to view your allergy forecast for the day, weekend, extended, or month. This can help you plan your visit.
- Weather.com – This site provides an Allergy Tracker forecast for specific locations. Make sure to change it to Europe and look for the city you will visit in Ireland. It has an allergy overview and specific color-coded perspectives for tree, grass, weed, and mold allergens.
While seasonal allergies can harm anyone’s trip, hopefully being prepared with the latest information on pollen counts in Ireland will help visitors stay as allergy-free as possible during their trip to the Emerald Isle. .
