Irish Events: What to Wear for Rain, Weddings, and Pub Crawl Weather

When you’re heading to an Irish event, a gathering shaped by Ireland’s unpredictable weather, social customs, and local practicality. Also known as Irish social occasion, it could be a wedding in Galway, a festival on the Dingle Peninsula, or a pub crawl in Dublin—none of them happen without considering the rain, the wind, and the damp floors. You don’t just pick an outfit. You pick a strategy.

What you wear to an Irish event isn’t about looking trendy. It’s about surviving the day. A formal dress? It needs to be made of linen or a heavy cotton blend that won’t cling when it rains. Boots? They’re called wellies, the standard waterproof footwear in Ireland, worn from farms to city streets. Also known as rain boots, they’re not optional—they’re the baseline. Even at a gala, you’ll see women in elegant dresses with sturdy ankle boots tucked under the hem. Men wear tailored jackets over wool sweaters because the inside of a church or hotel ballroom is just as chilly as the outside. Irish formal wear, clothing designed for damp interiors and outdoor photo ops in misty light. It’s not about sparkle—it’s about staying dry and warm while looking put together.

Summer events are no different. You might think of bright colors and light fabrics, but in Ireland, the palette is soft seafoam, muted olive, oatmeal, and deep navy. Neon doesn’t survive the fog. White gets stained by wet grass. A summer dress that flatters a big stomach? It’s usually an A-line cut in breathable linen, worn with a light cardigan because the wind off the coast hits hard. And if you’re heading to the Galway Races? You’ll see more hoodies and trainers than you will ball gowns. Irish summer fashion, clothing built for changeable skies, not Instagram filters. Also known as practical Irish style, it’s about layering, not showing off. Even the slippers you wear after the event matter. You won’t find thin, flimsy ones. You’ll find Clarks or wool-lined slippers with grip—because the floor is always damp.

Every Irish event—whether it’s a christening, a funeral, a music festival, or a birthday dinner—comes with unspoken rules. You don’t wear sneakers to a wedding unless they’re leather and hidden under a long dress. You don’t show up in skinny jeans if you’re hiking to a coastal gathering. And you never, ever wear socks with UGGs indoors. That’s not fashion. That’s a cultural signal.

Below, you’ll find real advice from Irish women and men who live this every day. How to pick a dress that won’t turn see-through in a downpour. Which jeans last through three winters. Why black t-shirts sell more than any other color. What to wear to a summer festival when you’re overweight. And why the best footwear for an Irish event isn’t the prettiest—it’s the one that won’t slip on wet cobblestones.