Ireland: coat & shoes

Good raincoat/jacket with a hood is better than an umbrella I'd say - less cumbersome and better in the wind.

Lightweight jacket is not going to hack it, even with layers.

We were in Ireland in August. I totally agree with the previous post about a raincoat with a hood. I had an umbrella but did not use it because it would have been more of a nuisance to deal with. I wore a waterproof trench from Eddie Bauer and also needed a long sleeve layering top and a fleece underneath. I also used a rainhat. Layering is the way to go. Be prepared for rain and changing weather at all times. I also had a fashion scarf and a vest to mix different outfits. Ireland is beautiful.

I brought medium weight jacket with a hood and a small umbrella. Needed both. I was there 9/03 - 9/11. Depending on where you will be, it will be cooler in Dublin or Northern Ireland probably than around the coast. Although, the morning we went to the Cliffs of Moher, it was cold, windy and misty! I found the weather there to be very humid and the temps very changeable. The advice for layers is spot on.
Have fun!

Also, I wore Clark's waterproof shoes, very comfortable and good for walking.

I usually bring a couple jackets. One lightweight rain jacket, a quilt thin jacket, I put underneath the lightweight rain jacket on cooler evenings & a jean jacket, which also can go under the rain jacket. I also bring at least 1 fleece, 1 dri/fit shirt or thick shirt. I bring about 5 long sleeve shirts. I am not a sweater person so I don't have any to bring. The light weight rain jacket has a hood but I also bring a baseball hat, I wear this in the day. Unless I am getting dressed up, an umbrella is just cumbersome. I will also bring gloves and a winter hat, may not be needed but light & handy if you do need them (I have cold hands/feet). I do bring a good pair of warm socks when I go, to wear in the room and to bed. I bring at least 2 pair of shoes, one to wear in the evening in case the first pair is wet or is bothering my feet.

I also wear jeans there, I find them very warm.

I was in Ireland 2 years ago and took a Marmot water proof jacket and a Patagonia fleece, with these two items I was fine for a two week trip. Also consider Merrell waterproof shoes.

Consider a baseball cap to wear under the hood. It keeps the rain away from your face and it keeps the hood from falling over your eyes.

We were there in early May. Temps bounced from low 50's to mid sixties the 10 days we traveled. I took a lightweight down vest and wore it everyday---easy to squish into my backpack then take out and shake to refluff. Wore a lightweight waterproof Columbia coat I could layer under---worked great against the one day of drizzle we had as well as a windbreaker other days it was sunny but breezy. Hubby had a lightweight merino wool sweater he wore daily under a wind shirt (like golfers wear) or Columbia jacket. No umbrellas---too much trouble to lug around. Hoods on coats did great and I could wear a wool cap underneath.

I was there in early September- in Dublin, there was a very brief yet heavy rain shower each afternoon. Temps were in the 60s and 50s for the most part, and it felt more damp on the coast (no surprise there).

I wore a Helly Hansen Lyness rain coat and it was perfect. It's waterproof and very windproof (and stylish). The coat is perfect for the climate when i was there, and I layered with merino cardigans in thr evening. I mainly wore my Teva Delavina leather boots, which are waterproof. I raved about these on the Walking Shoes forum here, and there were other ladies who were fans. I wore these more than my sneakers because of the waterproof factor. Bonus - they need little break-in time.

Re: umbrella/hat - I'm an umbrella gal because I wear glasses, but I noticed that few locals used umbrellas unless it rained a lot (they used hoods or hats or nothing). It tends to be windy, so one that's more wind-resistant is helpful. Also, if you want a super stylish rain hat and are going to Dingle, check out the Kathleen McAuliffe boutique - lovely shop. Have a great trip!