Which Clothes Are Not Used in Summer in Ireland? Your No-Nonsense Guide

Sunshine in Ireland isn’t a promise; it’s a lucky break. If you’ve ever left the house in July wearing shorts and sandals, confident in a warm forecast, only to battle the Atlantic wind and a surprise shower at the DART stop—well, you’re not alone. While pictures of summer abroad might mean floaty dresses and breezy linen, Irish summer has a character all its own, and some clothes just gather dust here.

If you’ve got a wardrobe full of spaghetti-strap tops and barely-there sundresses, they’ll probably get more use at a Spanish hen do than on Grafton Street. Knowing what not to wear is half the battle—why pack flip-flops for a day at the Forty Foot when you’ll end up shivering in your hoodie?

• The Irish Summer: What Makes It Different?
• Fabrics to Avoid When the Weather’s Moody
• Cuts and Styles That Just Don’t Work Here
• Colours and Patterns Best Left in the Wardrobe
• When Not to Pack: Real-Life Events and Local Spots
• Better Alternatives for Irish Summer Days

The Irish Summer: What Makes It Different?

Summer in Ireland isn’t like your typical European getaway—there are no endless heatwaves or weeks without drizzle. If you’re banking on July and August bringing guaranteed sun, you’ll learn fast. The average summer temperature across the island usually sits between 15°C and 20°C, and even then, those numbers come with a side order of wind and showers.

Weather changes are fast and rarely follow the forecast. You might leave home under blue skies and, by lunchtime, need a raincoat and maybe even a jumper. The famous ‘four seasons in a day’ saying isn’t a joke here—it’s how everyone from Dublin to Donegal plans their wardrobe.

Most locals don’t bother with heavy sunscreen every morning or stash flip-flops by the back door. Instead, it’s all about layers, smart choices, and adapting to the mood swings of the *Irish summer*. You’ll see people carrying umbrellas, wearing denim jackets, or tossing a lightweight waterproof into their tote before heading for the bus. The big lesson? What works for a Spanish or Greek summer sits mostly untouched in Irish wardrobes.

• Humidity can hit hard, making some fabrics stick and cling in all the wrong places.
• Frequent rain means suede shoes or flimsy sandals are doomed—runners and waterproof boots win the day.
• Mornings are chilly, and evenings can be colder than you think, even in June or July.

With all this, packing or shopping for Ireland means thinking ahead. Choose clothes that can handle a sudden shower, a surprise gust at Bray seafront, or a cool evening at TradFest. It’s not about giving up on summer style—it’s about survival with a dash of sense.

Fabrics to Avoid When the Weather’s Moody

The Irish summer has a mind of its own. It could be bright at breakfast, sticky by lunchtime, and chucking it down by dinner. Not every summer clothes fabric can cope with this, especially around Dublin or up the Wild Atlantic Way.

Here’s the thing: certain materials just make you miserable when the weather flips. Those fancy, airy things you see on influencers in sunnier places are often disasters here. Let’s break it down.

• Pure Linen: Looks great but wrinkles faster than a fresh bag of Tayto crisps. Once it rains, it can feel cold against your skin and takes ages to dry.
• Silk: Sweaty when it’s humid, freezing when the breeze picks up, and worst of all, rain spots leave brutal stains. Not worth the stress.
• Heavy Denim: Irish rain loves clinging to thick jeans. They never dry out, especially if you’re caught in a downpour in Galway or waiting for a late-night bus home.
• Pure Cotton: Sounds ideal, but unless it’s mixed with something else, it just soaks up dampness and wind. That leaves you chilly and uncomfortable fast.
• Polyester: Sure, it dries quick, but it also traps sweat and can turn a quick stroll along the Liffey into a sticky nightmare.

Just have a look at how these fabrics handle the classic Irish mix of rain, wind, and humidity:

If you’re popping into Penneys or browsing Avoca, skip these when stocking up for summer. There are alternatives that keep you warm when it’s damp, cool when the sun finally shows up, and don’t stick to you like clingfilm in a muggy Luas carriage. Durability, quick-dry, and a bit of weatherproofing make all the difference in Irish wardrobes.

Cuts and Styles That Just Don’t Work Here

The fashion ‘rules’ you spot on Instagram don’t always hold up in Ireland. Local weather does its own thing—even on so-called summer days. That’s why certain cuts and styles just flop here, no matter how good they look in theory or how often you see them on TikTok from hotter countries.

Mini shorts and ultra-short skirts might look tempting when it’s sunny for five minutes, but they rarely see the light in Ireland. Not only does the breeze whip up, but you’ll instantly regret them once there’s a hint of drizzle or when heading into a chilly pub. Spaghetti-strap dresses and open-back tops also sit in wardrobes gathering dust, because a regular Dublin July can be colder than you’d expect. Especially by the coast, like in Bray or Howth, the wind just doesn’t play nice with too little coverage.

Then you have wide-leg, flowy maxi dresses and skirts that practically act as umbrellas—catching grimy rainwater or blowing up embarrassingly at a Luas stop. These are fine on a true heatwave day (maybe once or twice each season), but nine times out of ten, they end up being more hassle than they’re worth when facing the classic Irish mix of sudden sun, drizzle, and fierce gusts.

• Open-toed heels or delicate sandals are rarely a good idea. Cobblestones in Galway or wet pavements in Cork will trip you up or have your toes freezing by afternoon.
• Heavy, padded clothing isn’t for summer either—unless you want to sweat buckets every time the sun comes out for five minutes. But layers are still your friend: think cardigans, light jackets, and jeans that roll at the hem.
• Backless, strapless, or super low-cut outfits tend to turn into ‘layering pieces’ rather than main events, once you throw a jacket or cardi over the top.

If in doubt, check what people at local summer events—like Taste of Dublin or Sea Sessions—are actually wearing. Practical wins every time here, even in July and August. No need to freeze for fashion.

Colours and Patterns Best Left in the Wardrobe

Let’s be honest—most Irish summers are not exactly tropical. Bold neon yellows and pure whites might look great on a Spanish beach, but here, the light does them no favours. In fact, they often look grubby fast because our rain isn't shy about splashing up mud or stains. Plus, let’s not forget how easily white tops show the first drops of rain, so unless scrubbing out grass stains from festivals is your hobby, you might want to rethink those lighter tones.

Here’s a quick look at how some colours and patterns hold up in Irish summer conditions:

Patterns can be tricky. Giant florals or busy tropical prints are designed for sunlight—not drizzle. Here, understatement works much better. Small prints, checks, or simple stripes blend in with Irish summer and don’t make you stand out like you missed your flight to Tenerife.

• If you want to avoid laundry headaches, skip the bright white dresses—the Irish weather just isn’t kind to them.
• Go easy on neon and highlighter colours; on an overcast day in Dublin they can look more like a high-vis vest than summer wear.
• Stick to mid-tones, darker prints, or practical patterns that hide the odd splash, especially if you’re active or using public transport around the country.

Don’t forget: at major Irish summer events like Body & Soul or Longitude Festival, practicality often wins out over showiness. You’ll see festivalgoers in dark patterned raincoats and jeans, happy to sit on the grass without worrying about every stain. If you want something timeless, navy, muted greens, or earth-tones are everywhere in Irish summer shops from Dunnes to Penneys, and they handle the weather much more gracefully.

When Not to Pack: Real-Life Events and Local Spots

Heading to one of Ireland’s many summer events or planning a touristy day out? That’s when packing the wrong clothes becomes painfully clear. So, what do you really leave at home?

First, forget about those delicate summer dresses and loose open-toe sandals if you're braving the grounds at Electric Picnic or fleadhs like the TradFest in Temple Bar. You'd be ankle-deep in mud before the headliners come on. Organisers actually recommend boots and weatherproof layers, not tank tops and flip-flops.

At Bloom in the Phoenix Park or Kildare Village’s summer sales, anyone choosing white jeans will regret it—rain or grass stains are a given. Going to a GAA match in Croke Park? The stands can go from sunny to icy wind in ten minutes. Thin vests and shorts are a no-go. Stash a light jumper or rain jacket even in July; the locals do.

If you're hiking in Glendalough or Dingle, airy fabrics like rayon or thin linen turn soggy fast. The mist can roll in out of nowhere. Lightweight waterproofs win every time over short shorts or see-through tops. Even at coastal spots like Howth or Bray, the sea breeze means goosebumps for anyone in a skimpy top.

• Ireland may be in 'summer' from June to August, but the average high in July is just 19°C.
• Dublin has over 10 days of rain, even in July (check out Met Éireann’s weather stats: real talk, bring a brolly!).
• Most music festivals state “wellies advised” in their info packs, year after year.

So before you toss a pile of ‘summer’ gear into your suitcase for anywhere in Ireland, check the forecast and imagine whether an extra gust of wind or drizzle would have you running for cover. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself at the next festival or picnic in Phoenix Park.

Better Alternatives for Irish Summer Days

You don’t have to dress for a heatwave just because it’s June in Ireland. When looking for proper summer clothes, think practical and a bit clever. Layers are your best mate, since the weather can switch from warm to chilly in minutes—especially if you’re heading out to places like Howth or Bray for a walk along the coast. Grab a light waterproof jacket (Regatta and Trespass are everywhere, from Dundrum to Cork) that you can shove into your bag if the sun decides to stay out.

Midi dresses in cotton or jersey are a go-to for a reason. They actually work here, unlike floaty polyester pieces that’ll cling as soon as the damp kicks in. Go for sleeves you can roll up instead of spaghetti straps, and you’ll be ready for anything. When it comes to trousers, cropped jeans or linen-blend trousers are ideal—airy but not so short you’ll freeze if there’s a breeze.

Your shoes matter as much as everything else. Leather trainers (think Ecco or Clarks, both with plenty of shops around Liffey Valley and Mahon Point) stand up to the odd shower and still give your outfit a "summer" vibe. Slingback sandals look lovely, but only if the forecast doesn’t threaten rain—so maybe leave them at home for Electric Picnic.

• Ireland can be humid and cool, so stick to natural fibres like cotton and lightweight wool, which breathe better than synthetics.
• If you’re outdoors, pack a small umbrella or a hat. It’s not unusual to get rained on in July, even during a trip to Galway’s Latin Quarter.
• Neutral colours—navy, grey, or olive—hide the odd splash from a puddle or errant mayo at a food market. White is risky with Irish showers and grass stains.
• Bring a light scarf. It’s handy at the office (those air cons can freeze you!), on an evening out, or even as a makeshift picnic blanket in Phoenix Park.

The trick is mixing style and sense. You won’t regret swapping a strappy dress for a t-shirt dress with a cardigan, or flip-flops for comfy loafers. Your future self—caught in a drizzle outside Aviva Stadium or at a glamping site in Kerry—will thank you.