The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland has the World's Best Rainbows

One of many rainbows we spotted on the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland!

Before we left for our week-long travels in Ireland, our downstairs neighbor demanded we bring back a gift: at least one pot o’ gold from the end of a classic Irish rainbow. Little did I know how easy it would be to find those rainbows in Ireland! (The gold, not so much.)

A double rainbow across the sky in Ireland!

Why does Ireland have so many rainbows? Because it has a lot of rain! Then sun. Then rain. Then sun. Then hail! Then sun. Put this wild weather roller coaster all together, give it a whirl, and you’ve got pretty colors streaking the sky!

The road on the Wild Atlantic Way near the Cliffs of Moher, right before the second set of rainbows came. — The road on the Wild Atlantic Way by the Cliffs of Moher, right before a second set of rainbows came.

So, where in Ireland is the best place to hunt down sky eye candy? Look no further than Ireland’s famous Wild Atlantic Way: the longest defined coastal touring route in the world, stretching 1,554 miles up the west coast of the Emerald Isle. Much of our Ireland trip was along this remarkable road, and in just one day (driving from the Cliffs of Moher to our our Galway hotel) Colin and I saw not one, not two, but FOUR rainbows.

As we turned the corner away from the Cliffs of Moher, we saw the third rainbow of the day.

It must be the combination of sea, land, and air on the Wild Atlantic Way that creates the perfect conditions for rainbows, but the most thrilling aspect of ogling ‘bows on the W.A.W. was that we could clearly see where they “ended!” I mean, check out this photo, below. Clearly, if we had obtained a boat, we could have gotten our neighbor his promised pot of gold!

Are these the world's best rainbows, or what? — Are these the world’s best rainbows, or what?

So what about you? Where do YOU think are the world’s best rainbows? Do share!

Enjoy this article and still planning your trip? Use these affiliate links to click here for an easy link to Ireland hotel deals, and here for deals on Ireland rental cars, as it will give a small commission to help support this site at no cost to you. Happy travels!

Lillie Marshall

The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!

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Rajnique R.

Wednesday 8th of April 2015

Were the rainbows only consistent in one specific part of Ireland or could they be found from all over? P.S. Your website IS faster!

Lillian Marshall

Glad the site seems faster after all the updates I made! We were in the southwest coast of Ireland, which seems to be the ideal rainbow spotting spot.

Elle | Spain Buddy

Tuesday 31st of March 2015

I love Ireland. I used to spend two weeks there each summer with my ex-inlaws. County Mayo.

It's so green, but nobody really appreciates it until they have seen it with their own eyes.

I am now craving boiling bacon and cabbage. Mmmmmm!

E x

Wandering Educators

Monday 30th of March 2015

I love Ireland. I love the rainbows - they are magical!!

Crystal

Saturday 28th of March 2015

I love the site. The rainbows are amazing. I just came across your site and thought I'd comment

Lillie

Thanks so much, Crystal!

Jesse Weisz

Great photos Lillie! GEEO should be offering an Ireland trip for teachers in the next year or two!

That tour will do well! At least in Boston, SO many teachers have Irish roots or a passion for the Emerald Isle. It's also very manageable: nice and compact.