Film production in Dublin
Between June and December, usable daylight in Dublin moves by 9h 26min — from 16h 58min down to 7h 32min. An exterior day in December is a different day from one in June. This page carries sunrise, sunset and golden-hour times for all twelve months, the climate profile.
Light and shooting hours
On 15 June, the sun in Dublin rises at 04:57 and sets at 21:55; the evening golden hour starts at 20:58 and runs for 58 minutes. By December that shifts to 08:35–16:07, with a 67-minute golden-hour window from 15:00.
In practice, a spread of 9h 26min means a schedule that works here in summer does not work in winter at the same location — with the same setup count, the hours simply are not there.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Golden hour (evening, from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:33 | 16:37 | 8h 03min | 15:35 |
| February | 07:45 | 17:35 | 9h 51min | 16:45 |
| March | 06:41 | 18:29 | 11h 48min | 17:43 |
| April | 06:27 | 20:25 | 13h 58min | 19:38 |
| May | 05:26 | 21:18 | 15h 52min | 20:26 |
| June | 04:57 | 21:55 | 16h 58min | 20:58 |
| July | 05:16 | 21:47 | 16h 31min | 20:52 |
| August | 06:05 | 20:56 | 14h 50min | 20:07 |
| September | 06:59 | 19:43 | 12h 44min | 18:58 |
| October | 07:52 | 18:31 | 10h 39min | 17:43 |
| November | 07:51 | 16:31 | 8h 40min | 15:33 |
| December | 08:35 | 16:07 | 7h 32min | 15:00 |
Blue hour and shooting windows
Blue hour in Dublin starts at 22:26 in June and ends at 22:48 — a window of 22 minutes. In December it is 16 minutes from 16:34. If you need a city view with lit windows, that window is all you get.
Sunset moves fastest around the equinoxes: between March (18:29) and September (19:43) there are 74 minutes of difference. A schedule running over several weeks cannot work from one fixed "sunset" time.
Weather and washout risk
Dublin averages 15 rain days in March and 12 in April. A three-day exterior shoot in March statistically loses 1.5 days — not a forecast, but the basis for deciding whether a cover set belongs in the budget.
| Month | Mean temperature | Rain days | Sunshine hours/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.0 °C | 13 | 4.1 |
| February | 6.6 °C | 13 | 5.4 |
| March | 7.3 °C | 15 | 7.1 |
| April | 8.7 °C | 12 | 9.2 |
| May | 11.9 °C | 13 | 11.0 |
| June | 14.6 °C | 13 | 11.4 |
| July | 16.1 °C | 15 | 10.1 |
| August | 15.9 °C | 13 | 9.7 |
| September | 14.1 °C | 13 | 8.2 |
| October | 11.7 °C | 14 | 6.2 |
| November | 8.6 °C | 13 | 4.5 |
| December | 7.3 °C | 15 | 3.3 |
Filming permits
The responsible body is Dublin City Council (Film Unit) für Drehs auf öffentlichem Grund; Screen Ireland berät national. Provided without warranty. Permit and incentive conditions change; the responsible authority is always the binding source.
As of: 2026-08 · Source: dublincity.ie / screenireland.ie
Planning a shoot here
A schedule that ignores these numbers looks fine on paper and falls over on the day. TillyGen folds sun position, travel and crew availability straight into the schedule — if the exterior no longer fits before sunset in December, the plan says so, not the wrap report.
Frequently asked
When is golden hour in Dublin?
In June it starts at 20:58 and lasts 58 minutes; in December it starts at 15:00 and lasts 67 minutes. The table above lists all twelve months.
How much daylight does a shoot day in Dublin get?
Between 7h 32min in December and 16h 58min in June. The 9h 26min difference is worth four to eight setups depending on your pace.
Which month is best for exteriors in Dublin?
Combining daylight and rain days, June comes out ahead: plenty of usable light with comparatively few rain days. June has the longest days but not necessarily the steadiest weather.