Will be going to Ireland 7/8/09-7/20/09 on a tour. Will cover from Dublin around the perimeter and back to Dublin. What is appropriate dress for during day and also for pubs at night. Jeans?? Dress? Pedal pushers? Thanks for your help, Ellen

Jeans should be fine, or whatever you feel comfortable in.

Ireland is casual. No need to dress up unless you'll be at a special event. It'll be pretty obvious that you're not Irish no matter what, so just wear what's comfortable.

I don't want to look out of place. I am 60 and will be traveling with a 57 year old and a 22 year old (trip is a graduation present). We will also be having a night at the Castle (Bunratty)- dinner and show. Should we dress up for that? I went to Italy a few years back and wore lots of long pants (but not jeans) as advised in travel form. I felt very comfortable and felt like I fit in? It probably sounds stupid but I don't want to look like a super tourist. Thanks,

That is a dinner and show for tourists, and you don't have to dress up for that. Slacks would be fine, or a skirt if you wish, but no need to dress up. In that particular case, only tourists will be there, anyway (and they do not dress up).

I don't know a thing about the Bunratty dinner and show, but I would always dress up for any dinner and show anywhere. I don't dress any differently when I'm in Europe from the way I dress here in the States, which is to say I dress appropriately for whatever occasion. I think the people who look like "super tourists" are the ones who dress inappropriately at home as well as when traveling.

<i>I think the people who look like "super tourists" are the ones who dress inappropriately at home as well as when traveling.</i>

I think that tourists are actually far more likely to dress up for things like dinner and a show. Locals know that it is almost never necessary. I think back to my younger days, fresh out of the sticks, when I thought you should dress up for things like dinner or the theater and I kind of laugh at myself. Now, I hardly ever wear anything other than jeans, no matter where I am going.

If you want to look like you belong someplace, then walk in like you belong there. If you walk in confidently in jeans, then people will assume you belong there more than if you walk in timidly in a suit or dress.

"Now, I hardly ever wear anything other than jeans, no matter where I am going."

Well, I don't. But I agree an air of confidence is essential.

I think you'll have less trouble "fitting in" in Ireland than you would anywhere else in Europe. I might take a nicer outfit - maybe a skirt and top, or slacks, but something that's easy care; you can wear that to Bunratty and, if you feel like it, any nicer restaurants you might go to. But that's all up to you. You could wear jeans the entire time and rarely, if ever, feel out of place.

If you're really interested in standing out as little as possible, I'd leave any clothes involving sports teams at home. Keep it simple. But most importantly, don't worry about it too much! You'll have a great time no matter what, I'm sure.

I rarely wear jeans when I travel but in Ireland, that's what I wore because it seemed to fit in and was comfortable.

I agree Ireland is more casual than many places in Europe, though, for dinner events soft black slacks and top or shell and soft jacket have seldom steered me wrong.

Ireland's wet.
What do you do if your jeans get wet?
How many pairs do you need to make sure you have a dry one?
Honest questions. I wouldn't have worn jeans in the Scottish highlands in August for that reason, but many do.

Thank you everyone. I am so excited and can't wait to go. Jeans will be the everyday pants and I will bring a pair of dressy pants in case I feel the need to dress up a little and will go with the flow. Thanks again

Grandmom - weather alert!!! We were there at the end of July and it was rainy and cold!!! We were told it was a bit more rainy than usual, but not that much.

I would definitely advise you to pack for the weather and not for fashion. At the last minute I threw in a pair of long pants and closed toe shoes and I wore them both every day. Bring a very good rain coat and I would seriously recommend waterproof shoes or good shoes with waterproof spray on them. Dress in layers so you can peel some off if the sun does come out.

Thanks kelliebellie. I will heed your advice.

How about a pair of knit black slacks or knit black capri's and a knit top. That can fit in with casual or a little nicer. It goes either way. Jeans by day, black pants or nicer black capris by night. No problemo.

The problem with jeans is laundering them. You can't wash them out in the sink and expect them to get dry overnight. Might take them days to get dry in the usual Irish summer. If you're staying in one hotel for several days, you can get them laundered there -- for a price. Or drop them off at a laundromat if you can find one on your off-time.

Let's be clear what the dinner and show at Bunratty are and you will realize that it is not dressy. You are seated at long benches, usually pretty crowded (they always sell out at that time of year). They cater pretty heavily to the tour bus crowd. The food served is palatble, the wine is marginal at best. Someone will be elected king and will be invited to send another guest into exile (or something like that). This event does not reuire formal attire.

That said, I'm also not a big fan of jeans in ireland because there is a reasonable chanvce that they will get wet and as presented before, they will take a while to dry. I almost always wear a "Dockers" type pant because it;'s more comfortable.

Of course, everything you wear should be black.

Bill

<i>The problem with jeans is laundering them. You can't wash them out in the sink and expect them to get dry overnight.</i>

Of course, the same is true of khakis, cotton shorts, and pretty much anything aside from "travel wear". And, if you have decided to go the quick-dry polyester route, you have already abandoned any attempts at fitting in. Which is fine, of course, but given that the OP seems concerned about fitting in...

Do you think the average Irishman/woman washes their clothes out in the sink? Which, of course, is why jeans are what you will see most Irish wearing.