I’m getting ready to spend a month in Ireland, and I don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. I will be riding my bike the whole time through, so I was planning on bringing some t-shirts and a baseball cap, but it occured to me that this garb may make me look like every other American tourist. I was just curious what is normal casual wear for a european? Granted, I’m not going to be wearing red, white and blue shorts with an “Don’t blame me I voted for Bush” t-shirt, but I do want to blend in. I don’t care if people know I’m American when they meet me, just don’t want to fit a sort of stereotype. Do you see what I’m saying? I hope so, thanks guys.
I cant say for sure, since ive never been to america, but im pretty sure we just dress the same as you. t-shirts and stuff will blend in fine. just dont wear really bright clothes and hawiaan shirts. or a huge camera around your neck. we have pretty crappy weather. if all else fails, wear an irish football shirt.
T-shirts are fine, but relatively few Europeans wear baseball caps. Incidentally, and this isn’t me being rude, why are they so popular in the US? I find them horrible things to wear… but then I guess I don’t have too worry about too much sun in my eyes.
In Ireland most people wear the traditional dress usually associated with leprechauns:
http://www.celticottage.com/products/pixies/leprechauns.jpg
Failure to wear this is a real social faux pas.
Can’t speak for everyone, but I usually wear one when I’m doing yard or housework and can’t be bothered to wash my hair (it won’t stay down without being wet). I’ll use them sometimes during bad weather, too, to keep the light rain off my glasses.
I’d guess they got popular here because of baseball.
You don’t have to worry about looking out of place, if you wear jeans and t-shirts while cycling around. Even with a baseball cap, nobody will think, here comes a yank on a bike.
I have to warn you that you should be prepared for the possibility of wet weather though, and wet jeans miles out in the countryside is unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst, even in summer, so you should consider alternatives. A fleece is a useful thing to have with you, and a light rain coat. You should also be prepared for roads that are less than ideal for cycling - the most popular parts of Ireland are pretty hilly, and the roads can be pretty rough.
Well, I don’t own a pair of jeans, so don’t worry about that. I hate the damn things. I do love my trusty baseball cap, and t-shirts are so damn comfortable. I’ve got my chilly weather gear and my rain gear ready. Oh, and I ride bikes for a living (rickshaws–usually with big fat people on the back), so bring on some hills. If you see me on the side of the road, please be nice. Thanks. Good night.
I wouldn’t worry too much cos Ireland’s the 52nd or 53rd state these days (after Puerto Rico(?) and the UK and every other place on earth)…
Us Irish dress zigackly like Americans, though its wetter and colder here than in many parts of the US. No flourescent bumbag yokeys though. They’re the mugger’s best friend. And khaki shorts aren’t as popular cos the weather’s not too reliable. Baseball cap is fine. Celtic jersey is de rigueur or summat.
Mogi
Have a good time btw. And beware of the fairyfolk. They’ll steal ur first born.
I’ve done the opposite: spend half a year in the US and one of the biggest differences in clothing I noticed was that Europeans (me included) tend to wear black socks more often than Americans do.
I’m not sure where the Irish stand on thuis issue, but I would guess this hold for them too.
If you want to really fit in there are a few lesser know ways you can make sure your “blending” is complete.
You need to bring a broadsword if you’re a man or a dirk if you’re a woman. Since citizens carrying handguns is not legal in the Emerald Isle this is the way the Irish take care of personal protection. Make sure it’s a big honking one too so the locals don’t dis you at the pub.
You’ll also need to learn to dance a short “money jig”. This is required before any financial transaction over 50 euros. If you are mobility impaired there are hand puppets (available everywhere) you can use and a “finger jig” will be accepted.
Just remember there are more Irish in the US than in Ireland, so don’t leave any unpaid hotel bills behind or when you are back in the US or a member of the local Knights of Columbus and a few of his pals will come around to collect, and they will add 35% to the bill for the trouble.
This is a good point. In Ireland you should avoid wearing white socks (as casual wear - for sports it’s okay). Some people are snobbish about them and you might not be allowed into certain bars or clubs.
So i take it wearing cowboy boots in Belfast would be the craic of the day , when ever I make it back.
Declan
of course, if you’re wearing trainers/sneakers, white shoes are okay…
I strongly urge you not to bring any hawaiian shirts, and if you have a camera, take off the neck loop…
If you’re coming for a month, and you’re going to be outdoors, just be sure to bring clothes for different kinds of weather - yesterday was sunny, today there’s heavy rain.
On the whole, I think Irish people dress much like Britons and Americans, and differently from continental Europeans. You’re not in danger of fitting the stereotype anyway, since the stereotype is of groups on coach tours. Apart from that, if American tourists stand out, it’s usually because of the cameras and bum bags. And possibly green clothes with “Ireland” on them.
I hope you have a good trip. Do you know where you’re going to go?
And more to the point, gitfiddle, are you going to come out on the lash with us?
I’m sure that you know that crack or craic refers to fun rather than drugs.
If someone is trying to sell you drugs, they will touch you with their left hand. If you are looking to buy something, just rub their right arm with your left hand (casually) If you are looking for a large amount of drugs or want to haggle, clasp their hand with both your hands.
Ardine, I’m starting in Dublin, heading down to Wicklow, then moving east to Cashel -> Mallow -> Killarney. Then Ring of Kerry. Then north all the way up the coast to Glencolumbkille, and taking a bus back to Dublin (Stopping in Co. Fermanagh, my family’s from there).
curly chick, I’m not quite certain what the lash is. If it has to do with going out for a pint, I intend to do quite a bit of that. You see, I don’t want to be a tourist (I mean I do want to see places) so much as I want to hang out and talk to people. I’m surely going to do some of the touristy things (i.e. taking a bus around the ring of Kerry), but I’m trying to keep it to a minimum. Also, I figure the best way to meet people is in a pub. So I’ll be stopping at a lot of them.
Congratulations, gitfiddle, going out on the lash does indeed mean going out drinking chatting and generally having a good time. You have just unequivocally proven that you will be fine when you’re here and not too easily spottable as a tourist.
There are a few of us in Dublin, so if you fancy meeting up with the Dublin Dopers, let us know on the boards and you never know, you could entice a few of us out. I have been posting on here for a good many months and there are still Dublin Dopers I haven’t met, so some of them must be a bit shy.
What curlychick is asking is whether you would like to come out for a pint with us Dublin dopers specifically.
(My last post would not look nearly so redundant if you ignore curlychick’s last post:o 
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