Arcadia Ireland

It's not long now until the Spring 2024 cohort arrives in Ireland - if you are one of the students starting to think about what to pack for January, read on!

Although it sits at a higher latitude than the continental United States, Ireland has a mild, temperate climate, and those from northern states may be pleasantly surprised by what they find here - the average winter temperature in Ireland is in the low 40s Fahrenheit! That being said, while snow is rare enough, winter in Ireland tends to be grey, wet, and windy so you will want to pack accordingly. Since the air tends to be very humid it can feel a lot colder than the temperature on the thermometer, and you won't want to miss out on anything because you weren't ready for the weather.

Here are a few tips for your packing:

Layers! Layers! Layers!

Your best bet for comfort in Ireland at any time of year is to have good layers that you can take on and off as needed. A light jacket or fleece will give you some flexibility along with warm sweaters (called jumpers in Ireland) and a heavy winter coat. Don't forget your hat or earmuffs, scarf, and gloves or mittens.

Good walking shoes

You will often hear Arcadia Ireland staff reminding you to wear your good walking shoes for our excursions. There are fantastic walks and hikes in Ireland and it's one of the best ways to enjoy the world-famous landscape - if your feet are comfortable that is! What makes a good walking shoe? It should be comfortable enough to walk around in all day, sturdy to support your feet, with a bit of grip on the sole and ideally waterproof since the ground is often wet even when it's not a particularly rainy day. Speaking of which...

don't forget the rain gear

Yes, it's true - Ireland is a rainy place. Even when it's not actively raining, we often have "soft" days with mists, fogs, drizzles... you get the picture. It's important to make sure that you have waterproof outerwear with you in Ireland, including your jacket and shoes or boots. You might want to think about the bag you're bringing to carry materials to class as well; there will be days when a canvas totebag just won't cut it. A good umbrella will take you far but on a windy day there is no substitute for a rainproof jacket!

Shopping in ireland

It's probably best for your budget if you manage to bring the right things from home, but if you arrive in Ireland and discover that your wardrobe isn't quite right, don't worry! There are a wide range of thrift stores (known as charity shops here as the proceeds go to charity) where you can find items to build out your Irish wardrobe.

If you aren't someone who enjoys winter, don't worry - while the skies may be grey, you'll quickly see where Ireland got its reputation as the Emerald Isle. The grass stays green all year, and it won't be long after your arrival that you'll start to see the first daffodils popping up. The picture at the top of this post is of a turf fire - while turf is currently being phased out for environmental reasons, you will often find fireplaces and stoves in pubs and there is nothing nicer on a chilly evening!

We wish you all the best as you wrap up 2023 and we will see you very soon in Ireland!