Mountainous areas along the west coast and particularly their west-facing slopes tend to experience a lot of relief rainfall. This is why parts of counties Kerry, Galway and Donegal are among Ireland’s wettest areas.
The southeast of Ireland, e.g. Wexford, is well removed from the effects of the wet westerly winds. It is therefore usually the warmest and driest part of Ireland. On average, it gets more than seven hours of sunshine a day in early summer, whereas the rest of Ireland gets between 5 and 6.5 hours. For this reason, it is known as the ‘sunny southeast’.
12. The mountainous areas of Ireland
ATLANTIC OCEAN Donegal Bay Ox Mts Nephin Beg Boyne
Question Time 1. Explain the terms ‘altitude’ and ‘aspect’.
2. Carrauntoohil, Co. Kerry, is Ireland’s highest point at over 1000 m above sea level. How do you think altitude affects the local climate of any settlement located nearby?
3. Describe how the local climate of a settlement on the leeward side of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks differs from that on the sea-facing slopes?