Did your county make the top 5?

Last year was very much the summer of the staycation, and with many people still feeling uncertain about international travel, that trend is set to continue. Indeed, the staycation isn't going anywhere, and why should it? Our little island is home to stunning beaches, picturesque towns and glorious mountain trails. Unfortunately, Irish weather is notoriously unpredictable. In fact we've grown accustom to packing our wellies and rain-jackets along with the Factor 50. And, while we all have our own favourite places to visit in Ireland, we'd by lying if we said the local weather didn't influence our staycation decisions. With that said, Active Iron has conducted a study to determine the sunniest counties in Ireland, and while the top three may be a little predictable, there are some surprises in there as well. According to their research, Wexford comes out on top with 1,600 hours of sunshine per year. Waterford is right behind its neighbour with 1,580 hours of sunshine, while Carlow hangs onto the third spot with 1,540 hours. Clinging onto the fourth and fifth spot are Longford and Cavan, with 1,520 and 1,440 hours respectively. On the flip-side, some counties are less lucky when it comes to hours of sunshine. While we have unending love for Galway, Offaly, Leitrim and Roscommon, they all clock in at the bottom with 1,200 hours of sunshine or less. And, while it holds a very special place in our hearts, this study found that Mayo experiences just 1,059 hours of sunshine. But hey, don't let that deter you from heading West. Between the Wild Atlantic Way, award-winning beaches and some of the best pubs in Europe, these counties have so much to offer even when the sun isn't shining. To check out the full list of the sunniest counties in Ireland, head to the company's official website.