Visitors from continental Europe to Ireland rose 7.7% in September compared with a year earlier, reaching 189.2k in the latest inbound visitor figures from the CSO. The market is still 46.8% below its pre-pandemic level.
The September count was up on 175.7k in September 2025 and ahead of the 186.8k recorded in September 2024. It remains well short of the 355.6k from September 2019.
How September compares with earlier years
September 2026 beat both of the two most recent Septembers, but it did not reach the 197.2k recorded in September 2023. Against September 2019, the gap is 166.4k visitors, or 46.8%.
- September 2026: 189.2k
- September 2025: 175.7k
- September 2024: 186.8k
- September 2023: 197.2k
- September 2019: 355.6k
Why the pre-pandemic comparison is hard to read
The CSO changed its methodology in 2023, which makes comparisons with 2019 difficult. The new approach uses a single passenger survey with stricter sampling rules, and an interviewer completes it instead of passengers filling it in themselves. The change shifted the ratio of inbound to outbound passengers from 60/40 inbound to 60/40 outbound.
That means part of the 46.8% shortfall reflects how visitors are counted rather than how many arrived. The year-on-year direction is the cleaner signal, and it is positive.
What the earlier 2026 figures showed
The September result follows a similar pattern in the summer. In July, continental Europe sent 219,500 visitors, up 9% on July 2025 and down 48% on pre-pandemic levels. The market accounted for 32% of July visitors and 31% of spend.
Tourism Ireland chief executive Alice Mansergh said it was “positive to see the growth in overseas tourism for the first half of 2026“. Revenue from mainland Europe rose 26% in the first six months, the strongest growth of the source markets cited, and the agency is rolling out a new strategy for the region as part of its push to diversify its overseas markets.
What it means for the rest of 2026
September extends a run of year-on-year growth from continental Europe. Across January to September, the market sent 1,814.3k visitors, up 15.9% on the same period of 2025 but still 40.3% below 2019. The market has recovered against recent years, but it remains far below its 2019 level on the CSO’s figures.
