Most of the country is a lowland less than 150 m above sea level. The central lowland is surrounded by a discontinuous rim of mountains. The oldest of these are the remnants of a mountain range that once was a chain extending from Ireland through Scotland to Scandinavia. In the south of Ireland, there are a series of parallel ridges separated by valleys. The ridges rise in elevation westward, culminating at Carrantuohill (1041m), the highest mountain in the country. In the southeast of Ireland rounded uplands stretch for 129 km in a northeasterly direction through counties Wexford and Wicklow to the south shore of Dublin Bay.
All of Ireland has a cool maritime climate. July has temperatures varying from 16°C in the south to 14°C in the north, while winters are relatively mild, with January temperatures ranging from 7°C in Valentia to 4°C in the northeast. Prevailing westerly winds pick up moisture as they cross the warm Atlantic ocean, and heaviest rainfalls of 1,524 to 2,540 mm occur where these winds first meet the western mountains. About 80% of the country has annual rainfall between 762 and 1,270 mm. The eastern coastal strip is relatively dry, with Dublin recording only 711 mm annually. The annual rainfall distribution shows a minimum in late spring, a relatively dry fall, and heaviest rainfall occurring in August and December. The southeast of the country has the highest percentage of sunshine.
Total population is 3,566,893 (World Factbook, July 1996 est.). Ireland´s density is fifth-lowest of all European nations. The population is fairly evenly distributed throughout the country. Higher densities can be found along the western seaboard, an area of small farms on poor land. Lower densities are associated with larger farms on the more fertile land in the east. Only 52% of the population live in towns of 1,500 inhabitants or more. Dublin, together with its seaport, has more than one-fifth of the country’s total population. Second in importance is the city of Cork, followed by Limerick, Waterford, and Galway, all port cities. The largest inland town is Kilkenny, with 9,838 inhabitants. The most urbanized areas of the country are the south and east.
Stations from the IDMP Network measure both daylight and solar radiation.

Clock Time: GMT+0. Summer time shift (GMT+1), from last Sunday in March,
to Saturday before last Sunday in October.

In general Irish practitioners tend to use UK publications. The Irish Building Regulations contain no lighting requirements.


  1. "Energy efficient lighting", 1993. It is available from Eolas (The Irish Science and Technology Agency, see contacts below) in Dublin and it gives good general guidance.
  1. "The Climate of Ireland" Rohan, 1986. It is available from the Government Publications office in Dublin.

  2. "Averages of bright sunshine 1951-80". This document along with other publications and data are available from the Irish Meteorological Service.
EOLAS
Glasnevin- Dublin 9
Tel: +353 1 370101

University College Dublin, Energy Research Group
School of Architecture
Richview, Clonskeagh
Dublin 14
Tel: +353 1 7062722

 Irish Meteorological Service
Glasnevin Hill - Dublin 9
Tel: +353 1 8366548

 

More information is available at Amadeus or the Electric Library

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