What Is a Jacket Without Buttons Called? Irish Styles and Traditional Outerwear

In Ireland, where the wind cuts through Dublin’s cobbled streets and the rain rolls in off the Atlantic like a tide, your jacket isn’t just fashion-it’s survival. You don’t choose a coat to look good. You choose it to stay dry, warm, and mobile through nine months of damp weather. And when you strip away the buttons, zippers, and snaps, you’re left with something deeply practical-and surprisingly common: a pullover jacket.

What Exactly Is a Pullover Jacket?

A pullover jacket is exactly what it sounds like: a jacket you pull over your head. No buttons, no zippers, no clasps. Just a neck opening and sleeves. In Ireland, this isn’t some niche trend-it’s a staple. You’ll see them in Clonakilty, Galway, and Donegal, worn by farmers, teachers, fishermen, and even retirees sipping tea on their porches. They’re often made from thick, tightly woven wool, sometimes with a bit of cashmere mixed in, and they’re designed to trap heat without restricting movement.

Unlike buttoned blazers or zippered parkas, pullovers stay put. No snagging on thorns when you’re walking the Burren. No freezing fingers fumbling with stiff buttons in the cold. No zipper breaking mid-storm on the Wild Atlantic Way. In a place where the weather changes faster than a Galway pub quiz answer, simplicity matters.

Why Ireland Loves Pullovers

The Irish don’t just wear pullover jackets-they’ve perfected them. The tradition goes back to the Aran Islands, where fishermen’s wives knitted thick, cable-stitched sweaters to keep their men warm on the North Atlantic. Over time, that same knitting technique moved from sweaters to outerwear. Today, brands like Claddagh Cashmere and Donegal Tweed Co. still make pullover jackets using the same hand-loomed wool from the northwest coast.

These aren’t flimsy fashion pieces. A good Irish pullover jacket weighs about 1.2kg, has a dropped shoulder for layering, and a slightly longer back to cover your lower spine when you’re bending over to fix a fence or load firewood. The neckline is wide enough to fit over a turtleneck but snug enough to block wind. Some even have a hidden hood stitched into the collar-no one wants to carry an extra hat when the rain hits.

You’ll find them sold at local craft fairs like the Kilkenny Design Week or in small shops like Moore & Sons in Ennis, where you can pick one up for €140-€180. It’s not cheap, but it lasts. One woman in West Cork told me her pullover jacket, bought in 1998 from a weaver in Doolin, still keeps her dry. “It’s got more memories than my car,” she said.

Pullover vs. Other Jacket Types in Ireland

Let’s compare how pullover jackets stack up against other outerwear you’ll see around Ireland:

Notice something? The pullover wins on simplicity and durability. It doesn’t have the wind-blocking tech of a parka, but it doesn’t need it. Wool naturally wicks moisture and retains heat even when wet. And unlike a zippered jacket, there’s no plastic to crack in freezing temperatures.

Where to Buy Authentic Irish Pullover Jackets

If you’re looking to buy one, skip the big chains. You won’t find real Irish wool at Primark or Dunnes Stores. Instead, head to:

• Donegal Tweed Co. (Donegal Town) - Handwoven jackets with natural dyes from heather and lichen
• Claddagh Cashmere (Galway City) - Lighter pullovers with a touch of cashmere, great for milder spring days
• The Aran Sweater Market (Aran Islands) - Direct from weavers, often with custom stitching
• Irish Craft Markets - Check the monthly markets in Kilkenny, Waterford, or Sligo

Many of these places let you choose your wool blend-some even let you pick the stitch pattern. The cable stitch? Classic. The diamond? Good luck. The moss stitch? Quietly popular among older women who say it “holds the wind like a prayer.”

How to Care for Your Irish Pullover Jacket

Wool is tough, but it’s not indestructible. Here’s how to keep yours looking good for decades:

1. Never machine wash. Hand wash in cold water with wool soap (like Eucalan, sold in most Irish pharmacies).
2. Roll it in a towel to remove excess water-don’t wring.
3. Dry flat on a towel, away from radiators. Heat shrinks wool faster than a Dublin bus driver’s patience.
4. Store with cedar blocks. Moths love wool. They don’t care if you’re from Cork or Cavan.
5. Brush it lightly with a sweater stone once a season to remove pills.

One man in Ballycastle told me he washed his jacket only twice in 15 years. “It smells like the sea now,” he said. “That’s not a flaw. That’s history.”

When You Might Want Buttons Instead

Don’t get me wrong-pullover jackets aren’t perfect for every situation. If you’re heading to a wedding in Kilkenny Castle or a business meeting in Cork’s Microsoft campus, you’ll want something more polished. A buttoned tweed coat or a tailored wool blazer makes sense there. But for walking the Wicklow Way, mucking out the shed, or waiting for the 7:15 bus in Limerick? A pullover is king.

And if you’re visiting Ireland? Don’t just buy a raincoat. Buy a pullover. It’s the one thing that says, “I get it.” You don’t need to understand the GAA or the history of the potato famine. But if you’re wearing a wool pullover jacket that’s seen three winters, you already understand the weather.

Final Thoughts: More Than a Jacket

In Ireland, a jacket without buttons isn’t just a style-it’s a statement. It’s about practicality over pretension. It’s about trusting natural materials over synthetic tech. It’s about wearing something that’s been made by hand, for generations, to survive the same wind that blows off the Cliffs of Moher.

So if you’re wondering what a jacket without buttons is called-it’s not just a pullover. In Ireland, it’s a way of life.

If you’re ever in Ireland and you see someone walking down a lane with no coat, no umbrella, and just a thick wool pullover, don’t assume they forgot something. They’ve got it figured out.