Does Ireland get snow often enough that I need winter driving gear?
No. Snow is an occasional visitor rather than a season here. Lowland Ireland sees snow fall on a few days in most winters and lying snow usually melts within a day or two, though the hills, the midlands and the north hold it longer, and a hard cold spell does arrive every few years and stops the country for a spell. The commoner winter hazards for a driver are ice and frost on untreated rural roads in the early morning, freezing fog, and flooded roads after heavy rain. Winter tyres are not legally required in Ireland, rental cars do not carry them and chains are not part of Irish driving. What the Road Safety Authority asks for instead is time: slow down, leave a bigger gap, let the car de ice fully and check the forecast before a rural start.
Useful pages: The best time to visit Ireland · Irish weather, month by month · What to wear · Weather in Ireland · Experiencing the Irish coastline · Ireland's national parks · Outdoor adventures in Ireland · Travel notices · Ireland photography tips · Ireland weather guide
Sources
- Road Safety Authority: winter driving advice and winter tyre rules, rsa.ie
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- Is Ireland worth visiting in winter, and what should I expect to be closed or quiet?