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.

Picture the scene, we're a year ahead and it's May 2024, a beautiful sunny day and below us the Baily Lighthouse and Dublin Bay with RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster on the other side.

RTE are preparing to host Eurovision, after Ireland's 2023 entry, Hawaii by Public Image Ltd (PiL) fronted by John Lydon, won the famous music competition in May 2023.

Well, that is the possibility as tomorrow night, Friday 3rd of February 2023 Lydon and PiL will be performing on RTE's The Late Late Show as part of a competition to find the country's entry for this year.

Hawaii is a paean to Lydon's wife of almost 50 years, their life together and one of their happiest moments together, in Hawaii. Nora now is living with Alzheimer's; the song, video and artwork are "... dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most,” says John Lydon. “It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.”

Out on Ireland's Atlantic Coast, in one of the most remote places in the country, sits Blacksod Lighthouse.

A new documentary by Ireland's national broadcaster RTE tells the story of Maureen Sweeney, who on her 21st birthday, was taking weather readings at this remote outpost and relaying those through Ballina and Dublin to the Allies in Doncaster where Group Captain Stagg was interpreting the weather charts and information provided by various stations including those from Blacksod and advising General Eisenhower of the best time to launch the D-Day landings in June 1944.

Situated at the northern tip of the Fanad peninsula in northern Donegal, Ireland's most northerly county, Fanad Lighthouse is undoubtedly one of the most scenic in Europe.

The stormy, but as seen here calm, waters of the Atlantic stretch thousands of miles beyond the horizon and distant mountains are visible in many directions.

This lighthouse is photographed more often than most others in Ireland and is a perfect location in a part of Ireland full of interest for landscape photography.

Return to Saint John's Point - Northern Ireland's Unusual Lighthouse

The distinctive yellow and black painted lighthouse is situated on the eastern end of Dundrum Bay in County Down, Northern Ireland and differentiated from most lighthouses that are decorated in the usual black and white or just white.

Not to be confused with Saint John's Point lighthouse in County Donegal; the unusually-coloured County Down lighthouse is one of the finest in Ulster with rocky foreshore, the Mourne Mountains in the distance and its bright colour adding to the appeal of the long drive into the peninsula on which it sits.