OK...me again, but I'm getting conflicting stories of what clothing I need to pack for an August trip in Ireland. I know to prepare for daily rain, and that it never gets overly warm, so I was thinking mostly capris, with either short or sleeveless shirts with light cardigans to layer, along with some heavier sweaters/jackets. And a raincoat of course. Now I'm being told by a friend to forget capris and pack just jeans and sweatshirts. Any advice?
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2450 posts
agree/no to jeans/capri pants are fine and if wet will dry quickly not like jeans/we found a good rain jacket at ll bean that has a neat carrying case (might have been at Gap) no to heavier sweaters/jackets or raincoat/just rainjacket and sweater you can layer/t shirt/sweater/rainjacket/not sweatshirt too bulky
Posted by
OP
Bemont
6 posts
Thanks! I really wasn't going to take jeans (not really my thing and wet pants are no fun) but I was nervous about the capris. I'm feeling better now...but will put some heavier sweaters in.
Posted by
Spring, Texas
635 posts
When I was there in May it was in the 80s. You should plan on hot weather but also lows into the 40s. I don't usually travel with jeans because if they get wet they will take forever to dry. A cotton sweatshirt would be about the same but that should be under your rain jacket. Instead of a sweatshirt I always bring a 100% polyester fleece sweater.
Travel light and layer.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Absent torrential rains, which there probably aren't much of that time of year, what's below your butt doesn't get so wet that it won't dry out in short order. Wear what suits you from the waist down and focus on a really good rain jacket. The requirement for super-warmth will not exist.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2804 posts
Take your capris, what you plan to take to layer sounds good.....stick to what you have planned.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2776 posts
Capris and pants are fine. I wouldn't pack jeans -- on a windy, rainy day they will get soaked and you will hate them. I would bring short and long sleeved t-shirts and one fleece jacket plus a waterproof jacket or raincoat with hood. I don't thinkkyou want to bring multiple sweaters/jackets -- way too bulky and you may never wear them. One fleece will do it.
Posted by
Naples, FL, USA
29 posts
What about for guys??? Capris don't apply, and it seems khakis aren't real common in Europe, at least when we went to England, Italy, and Switz. I was thinking jeans would be pretty much the most common for guys. Thanks...
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
You need to take into account the wind, especially if you plan to travel along the Irish coast. Even in August, the weather changes rapidly throughout the day and while the morning may start out warm enough to wear capris and a short sleeve shirt, the winds can kick up enough that you'll be longing for a fleece jacket with a long sleeve tee and a pair of long pants by 2PM.
I would not bring mostly capri pants. I like to wear capris in the U.S., but invariably find that when I go visit my family in Ireland during the summer I am always reaching for jeans or long pants.
Darin, as for men in Ireland, they typically wear jeans (cut closer to body than American jeans and in dark rinses) unless over 60, then they seem to favor trousers.
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
Are jeans the only type of pants succeptible to getting wet in the rain? Don't think so -- not a reason to not wear them. If it's warm inside jeans should dry fine overnight.
Posted by
Westport, Ireland
80 posts
I have never had a problem with jeans + rainy days. If they are long..the bottoms might get a little wet..but they dry overnight. Another option, that is quite popular here, would be skirts/dresses/long tunic tops with leggings. Preferable worn by the ladies :)
Posted by
OP
Bemont
6 posts
This is such helpful information - thank you!
Posted by
Costa Mesa
37 posts
Hi Kristi
It really depends upon what you are planning to do/see on your trip. If you are planning nicer restaurants, shopping, etc. you'll want to bring "dressier" clothes - if you are going to be exploring the Dingle peninsula, ruins, the Burren, etc. you'll want more casual, durable clothes.
Just returned from 2 weeks in Ireland/England. We spent a few days in Dublin and then went to Galway, visited the Burren, the Cliffs, Killaloe, and then the Dingle peninsula and then on to London for shopping, theatre, etc. Here is what I took:
1 pr. jeans
2 pr. capris ( 1pr. jean capri's and 1 pr. black)
1 pr. nicer pants (black Dockers)
3 3/4 lenth t shirts
1 long sleeve white linen shirt - wore by itelf or over a tank)
2 tank tops
1 fleece type sweater
1 lightweight cardigan (wore this at night over tank with nicer pants for dinner if going out)
1 rain jacket
1pr. lightweight yoga pants for relaxing
pajamas
1 pr. sandals
1 pr. good walking shoes ( I took a pair of merrell lightweight, low profile hiking shoes - came in very handy for Dingle peninsula and The Burren).
1 pr. naturalizer slip ons
I generally limit myself to two pairs but given that we were doing the Burren and Dingle brought the merrell's - being able to switch between 3 shoes was really helpful but 2 pair of well chosen shoes works too.
Inland areas of Ireland are warmer than the coast. For example, it was quite warm in Dublin when we were there - I wore capris and a tank top with sandals. In Dingle, I wore jeans and a 3/4 length t with either my fleece or the rain jacket. As for the capri/pants issue, if you are mainly going to be on the coast, bring 2 pr. pants - if you are going to be inland more, bring 2 pairs of capris.
For me, this was plenty for 2 weeks - we did however, do laundry about 3 times during the trip (mainly because we had access to a washer/dryer).