Longest and shortest day in Cork
In Cork, Ireland, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 16h 43m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 7h 46m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:36 | 18:47 | 12h 10m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:14 | 21:57 | 16h 43m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:19 | 19:32 | 12h 13m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:39 | 16:24 | 7h 46m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:34 | 16:52 | 8h 17m |
| February | 07:49 | 17:47 | 9h 58m |
| March | 06:48 | 18:37 | 11h 49m |
| April | 06:38 | 20:31 | 13h 53m |
| May | 05:40 | 21:20 | 15h 40m |
| June | 05:13 | 21:55 | 16h 41m |
| July | 05:32 | 21:46 | 16h 14m |
| August | 06:18 | 20:57 | 14h 39m |
| September | 07:08 | 19:48 | 12h 40m |
| October | 07:58 | 18:40 | 10h 42m |
| November | 07:53 | 16:43 | 8h 50m |
| December | 08:35 | 16:22 | 7h 48m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Cork
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Cork leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Cork sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Cork
When is the longest day in Cork?
The longest day in Cork falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 16h 43m of daylight, sunrise at 05:14 and sunset at 21:57.
When is the shortest day in Cork?
The shortest day in Cork falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 7h 46m of daylight, sunrise at 08:39 and sunset at 16:24.
How much does day length change through the year in Cork?
Between the longest and shortest day, Cork gains and loses about 8h 57m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Cork's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.