How to Pack For Ireland in Two Easy Steps
Our favourite guest blogger Gerry Britt educates us on the deliberations and subtleties of packing for a trip to Ireland.
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the Emerald Isle three times in the last four years. I’m returning in August to spend time with American ex-pat old friends, new Irish cousins, and the remaining 17 people on the island that I haven’t yet met. I won’t call myself an expert on Irish travel (well, not out loud anyway), but I have learned a thing or two about how to keep the luggage down to no more than two bags and a carry-on, and have all the lot weigh less than a cruise ship.
When packing for Ireland, there are two important things to remember:
1. It’s going to rain today.
2. It’s going to rain tomorrow.
Look for the silver lining, or the rainbow, whatever gets you through
Now, don’t let this put a damper (har!) on your plans or your packing. Trust me, once the rain stops (and it will, very soon) and the sun comes out you’ll be in awe of the scenery before you can shake the drops off your jacket. The Irish sky after a soft rain is breathtaking. You can see for miles and miles, and the legendary shades of green for which Ireland is justly famous will total a lot more than just 40.
That said, there is an Irish expression, “There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” Herewith, my expert (whoops, did I say that out loud?) advice on how to pack, in two simple steps:
1. Loosely pack one bag for the rain, and the sun that will follow.
2. Loosely pack another bag for the sun, and the rain that will follow.
There now, wasn’t that easy? Okay, allow me to elaborate. Packing for Irish weather can be summed up in one word: layers. T-shirts, light sweaters, a good waterproof – that can be washed with a garden hose – jacket, a waterproof hat, and good walking/hiking shoes. Thinner is better. Sweaters and jackets should be thin enough to tie around the waist or stuff in a backpack. Undergarments made of moisture-wicking material are excellent: thin, lightweight, and comfortable, and no worries of rashes. I highly suggest hiking boots, rather than shoes, because once you leave the paved streets of Dublin you’ll be wandering far and wide over tall grass, short grass, newly-mown grass, bogs, streams, and country lanes. Slip into good, cushioned-sole wool socks and off you go.
What a professional packing for a trip to Ireland looks like
Now let’s look closely at ‘loosely.’ This is very important, and will save you time, energy, and money, both while you’re in Ireland and at the airport departure counter while you cry over having to leave Ireland. You have to leave room in your bags for all the clothes you are going to purchase, to wit:
- the Trinity College hoodie from the souvenir shop in Grafton St (and by the way: that t-shirt that proclaims how drunk you got in Temple Bar? Put it back. It’s embarrassing. You’ll understand why after a few days)
- that beautiful Donegal tweed cap
- the absolutely gorgeous shawl from the Avoca shop near the entrance to Killarney National Park
- the pink Wellies with the cute little sheep and shamrocks that you buy in Clare when the Skechers I told you not to pack get soaked in Doolin
- the Aran sweater for your brother-in-law, and the half-dozen other ‘ohmyGodIjusthavetogetthis’ items that will fill your bag quicker than you can say ‘bodhran’, which you’ll have to check at the gate despite your strenuous objections. It will be fine. You think you’re the first?
Wellies at their most multi-tasking
The advantages of packing this way will be evident as soon as you arrive at the rental car lot and discover exactly how compact a compact car is. You will find that your bags will actually fit into the space that those eternal optimists at Avis claim will hold ’4-5 pieces of luggage’.
Packing tip #1: when you check into your room that first day, transfer your clothes to one bag and leave the other for purchases and well-bagged dirty laundry. This way, you’re not rummaging through both bags looking for dry socks while destroying turf Christmas ornaments (which are very practical: you can burn them for warmth if times get really tough back home and you can’t pay the electric bill due to throwing around those Euro bills like the Monopoly money they so closely resemble), Belleek vases, and Waterford crystal. Aran sweaters are better than Styrofoam for cushioning.
Packing tip #2: while hard-case luggage is practical for reducing breakage, it’s impractical for stuffing into a hatchback when full. Just cushion the fragile stuff. Better yet, have it shipped. It will arrive in a week or so, like a gift to yourself from Ireland.
All packed!
My family and I learned these lessons through trial and error, and when I leave for Ireland this summer I will go with one half-filled, soft-sided suitcase filled with a few shirts, a jacket, one sweater, my Donegal tweed cap (told ya!), and my big green Wellies (stuffed with lycra/spandex undergarments) that I got in County Tipperary after I stepped in…well, you know… and ruined my Skechers.
I will leave at home my dressy clothes, since Ireland is, as a rule, a very informal and relaxed place. Plus, there’s this great little shop in Dingle Town that has the coolest European-cut dress shirts. I will also leave my “I Got Sh—Faced in Shamrock Land” shirt in the bottom of my bureau drawer, where it belongs. It still has the tags on it.
I will take my passport, copies of my itinerary and contact info, wall plug adapters, extra memory cards, prescription meds, phone chargers (get an International Traveler Plan or buy an Eircom card upon arrival and save yourself some money), camera, batteries, and cigarettes, which are frightfully expensive.
Hopefully you don’t smoke, but a great way to meet the locals is to stand outside with the smokers. Excellent craic to be found there and it’s great for ‘smirting’, a combo of smoking and flirting. An offered Marlboro is a good icebreaker. It will make you instantly popular, and will lead to great conversations about America, your Irish roots, and exactly how many smokes you’ve got left in that pack.
Finally, when I get to the airport to go home I will not have to pay for an extra, overweight, or oversized bag; my fragile items will be either well-packed or in the capable hands of FedEx, and I will have no worries except how to keep the teardrops from ruining my boarding pass.
I wish you happy and safe travels, and if you’re in Ireland this August, the first round is on me.
What a great article! Spot on too. You never know what you will get with the Irish weather, but i doesn’t matter because you are in Ireland and the next gorgeous view is around the corner. Safe travels in August Gerry!
Some good info..went there id 2003 for 17 days..was lucky enough to have a driver which was arranged by a wonderful travel agent.I did not have to lift a bag….and he was so nice and very professional..I stated places that were must-sees and they had a few wonderful suggestions..My guide would stop for those sweet little sheep that I had to lovingly gaze at…I did not realize how true it is when you leave Ireland..it is like a spiritual experience…like either you will see it again in heaven…or you can start planning your next trip…because it hurts so much to leave that beautiful paradise. I saved up for 1 yr to get there and it was worth it for sure… The odd thing too is that it rained one day when I was in Dublin…and it made the day more special..Think it was in July..they were having the “Special Olympics at the time ..and all of the little towns were spic n’span to be ready for the Olympians.
Very funny and very informative.
Great tips and all the while a very entertaining read
I always get asked about Irish weather and what to expect, but other than showers and sunshine it’s impossible to predict. You can go in August and get tons of rain, or go in March and see plenty of sun.
Liam
Thank you x 3! I am still hoping to make it there. Is there an optimum month to go? (after what Liam said above – smile).
I;m arriving Aug 13,,,my first pint will bw on you,,,,this is my 4th visit,,,each were a special experience ,,,,,Dan
Great article – I’m going in September and lots of good suggestions in this article. Should I buy wellies before I go or buy them in Ireland? Plan on plenty of trekking.
diana
Thanks – delightful article. Makes me wish I was going. & Thanks to James for tweeting it.
Thank you for sharing parts of your trips. We have been there twice and can relate to the car packing in those compact cars. Brought it all back so vividly and would love to see Ireland again. Meanwhile am enjoying your blog immensely!!! Pat
Great info, but you forgot washcloths! They don’t have them. I cut up an old towel into squares, and took one or two for each hotel then threw them away when I moved on. (It’s a lady thing!)
Ireland’s weather is JUST like Alaska’s! I felt so at home there, especially on the coast with the wind and rain LOL. We dress in layers here, one minute rain, one minute shine.
Thank you for the tips! My husband and I will be there in August as well and I was unsure what to pack!
Very informative, thank you. I will be in Ireland the end of August with my son, daughter, and brother. I’ll buy the second round!
This year we will pack a full suitcase and put it inside an empty suitcase and pay for only one bag on the way there. We have accumulated a number of Irish suitcases by not implementing this action.
Great article. Love the smoking with locals part. Will have to try that.
My wife and I spent 6 weeks in Ireland last “summer.” Gerry Britt’s advice is dead-on. I had packed one pair of jeans and three pair of Dockers; that was wrong. I should have packed two or three pairs of jeans and could have skipped the Dockers altogether. (BTW: I am 67).
WOW! This was dead on…. I went to Ireland for the first time in sept. 2011, brought way too many clothes; only half of which i wore… Bought so many souvenirs (aran sweaters {2}, nice shawl, etc.) that I had to purchase another suit case and then 2 of the 3 returning cases were overweight.
Went again in may 2012, did much better, BUT there were 2 days of record-setting highs, and it didn’t rain even once while we were there, that was very disappointing! The last thing that I did before leaving for our trip was to remove the 1 pair of capri pants, as I decided it would probably not be warm enough!
the rains in Ireland are tears of joy welcoming you to her beautiful land. The rains are also tears of sorrow when you depart from her bounteous hospitality and love.
planning on a trip later Sept. or first of Oct. Are there any festivals or activities somewhere in the time frame. Havent made any arrangements yet (2013)
Festivals: we’re arriving Galway Sept 14th and planning on attending the Clarenbridge Oyster Festival on (outside of Galway) the 15/16th. Heard it was a hoot.
Very funny!…and apt for this year! Enjoy!…and if you are looking for accomodation in Northern Ireland drop us a line
http://www.scionhillgatelodge.com
What about going now?? While it isn’t summertime… would a big coat be nice? scarfs, sweaters, boots, long pants, etc?