Ah November, the month in which winter is supposed to begin in Ireland. Not so this year, 2024 has seen records being broken across Ireland for warmest temperatures recorded in various locations.

Although the overall maximum November temperature hasn't been broken as yet, November has seen eleven weather stations across Ireland register temperatures higher than ever recorded at those locations ranging from Tipperary to Donegal.

In some cases, such as at Athenry, County Galway and Claremorris, County Mayo weather stations recorded 18.6C and 18.2C respectively which are both 2C higher than previous maximums. 

The highest so far this year is 19.2C in Dublin's Phoenix Park but the record still stands as 20.1C in November 2015 at Dooks, County Kerry.

Minimum temperatures have been high too this year with 14.6C at Valentia, County Kerry observed, the third highest on record for the month in Ireland.

In the image, Ballycotton Island Lighthouse in County Cork on a warm, cloudy November day. This lighthouse was painted black in 1902 to distinguish it from the nearby Capel Island Lighthouse.

The forecast is for cooler conditions this week, for a few days, but with a return to warmer weather by next weekend.

Join me to photograph in the Irish countryside, in the city, or by the coast in November, December, January and the other nine months of the year - 2025 dates available now.

A recent photography tour took me back to County Cork and after finishing, since it was such a fine day, I went exploring in the Irish countryside.

Here I found Barrymore Castle in the north of County Cork, ruined since the 1770s it was built in the 1620s and was once a majestic home. 

Now it is only ruins and ivy, standing on a bluff overlooking a small river. Unlike many of the ruins dotting the Irish countryside this one was not destroyed in some war or conflict but in a conflagration that some say lasted for months, during repairs to the roof.

See my exploration of Barrymore Castle below on Panoramic Ireland's YouTube channel.