Packing for Ireland

When packing for Ireland, there are two important things to remember:
1.       It’s going to rain today.
2.       It’s going to rain tomorrow.
That bit of wisdom comes to us from Gerard Britt’s blog post, “How to Pack for Ireland in Two Easy Steps.” We are told that we may run into a couple days warm enough for shorts, but it may never go above 65 degrees Fahrenheit (That is either zero or 5280 degrees Celsius.)  Apparently Ireland seldom gets frog strangler rains like Arkansas does, but it “mists VERY frequently.”
 
Britt also says, “ . . . once the rain stops (and it will, very soon) and the sun comes out you’ll be in awe of the scenery before you can shake the drops off your jacket. The Irish sky after a soft rain is breathtaking. You can see for miles and miles, and the legendary shades of green for which Ireland is justly famous will total a lot more than just 40.”
 
Unless—like Dave and Kay—you choose to dress in Traditional Irish Costumes you might want to follow the advice below.
 
Everyone seems to agree that the best plan is to dress in thin layers. Only once during our tour will we sleep in the same hotel two nights in a row, so don’t expect to wash cotton BVD’s in the sink and hope they'll be dry by morning. If you can find ‘em, socks and under garments made of moisture-wicking material are a good choice. Frequent Irish travelers prefer water resistant walking shoes or boots.
 
Trudy says Ireland is pretty informal and while Mike might pack a pair of slacks just in case, he expects to wear jeans most if not all of the time. He’ll pack Polos, long-sleeved collared shirts, and t-shirts.  Bill wears Polos almost all of the time.  

As for herself, here’s what Trudy—an experienced Irish tourist—will do.
"I'm packing clothes for spring/fall weather.  Most of my shirts will be long-sleeved but light-weight and my pants will be jeans.  That way, even if it warms enough that I don't need a jacket, I'll still have my arms covered and protected from the sun.  I also plan to take a couple skirts and tights.  The most important item, besides a jacket with a hood, is comfortable shoes.   I'll also pack a visor - we are outside a lot and seeing with the sun shining can be bothersome." 
 
Kay Sandoz and Jan remind the girls that while all our hotels will have irons and hair driers, if you plan to use a curling iron, you’ll need an electrical adaptor like the one shown at right. We’ll also need one for our computers or cell phones. Will your electrical gadget work with an Ireland-adaptor? You may find an answer at this web site:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/electronics-travel.htm
 
Speaking of cell or smart phones, if you don’t get an International Calling/Data plan, it could cost you $132 to find out if it rained in Sargent. With Verizon you can get a cheap temporary plan that cuts the cost of calls in half. I’m betting other cell companies have similar plans. You should check with your provider before leaving. At each hotel be sure your smart phone is using their WiFi and not racking up astronomical roaming charges. 
 
All your medications must be in their original containers with OTC or prescription labels in place, otherwise you could be sitting in jail for 3 hours before an unfortunate Interpol officer discovers what he thought was cocaine was your powdered laxative.
 
Remember to leave space so you can take home the treasures you’ll buy at that quaint little shop in Dingle Town. It can be a good idea to bring an extra, empty, bag, preferably one which is roomy but will fold up easily inside your main suitcase.

The day before we leave, Rosemary will probably Google the 10-day forecast for County Kerry and then repack half her suitcase.   I hate to admit it, but that may not be a bad idea--the Googling part, anyway.  
 
Got some advice to add? Leave a comment below, or if you are having trouble with the comment feature (it’s more complicated than need be), email Don and he’ll add it for you.