Festival Clothes
Outfit ideas for Irish festivals, from shamrock green to Edwardian Bloomsday style, and how to dress for the weather.
Festival clothes in Ireland
Ireland has exciting festivals all year round. Some of the most popular include St Patrick's Festival, TradFest, Pride, Bloomsday, the Galway International Arts Festival, the Kilkenny Arts Festival and Longitude. As with any festival, a big part of the fun is planning your outfit.
Whether you want to glam it up for Instagram or stand out from the crowd, here are a few festival outfit ideas. From edgy pieces like leather skirts to shiny accessories and comfortable shoes, we will have you looking good throughout the festival season.
With so many festival clothes to choose from, dressing for the occasion can feel overwhelming. This guide will help you put together a stylish and practical wardrobe for your next festival. And whatever you wear, remember the golden rule for Ireland: bring a layer and something waterproof.
St Patrick's festival clothes
St Patrick's Day is all about the shamrock and wearing green. You could go for a green sequin mini dress and green boots, accessorised with a green necklace and shamrock glitter stickers.
If you are after something casual, try a green and white shamrock T-shirt with a clover-shaped pendant, jeans and chunky green trainers. Other accessories that stay true to the theme include green top hats and shamrock earrings. March can be cold, so a warm jacket in green or neutral tones is a good idea. Read more about the day itself in St Patrick's Day 2022.
Longitude and TradFest festival clothes
Longitude and TradFest are two very different music festivals. Longitude is a big summer festival in a Dublin park, while TradFest celebrates traditional and folk music in venues around the city in winter. A printed shirt tucked into flared trousers suits both. Don't forget an embroidered jacket or a cosy knit to keep warm while staying stylish, in case the weather turns.
If you love one-piece outfits, try a black and white jumpsuit with a black belt to cinch the waist. As for hats, a printed beanie or a bucket hat will do the trick. Ankle boots, patterned trainers or flat shoes complete the look. For an outdoor summer festival, comfortable footwear matters more than anything: you will be on your feet all day, possibly on wet grass.
Bloomsday festival clothes and more
On Bloomsday, people celebrate James Joyce's novel Ulysses, published in 1922 and set in Dublin on 16 June 1904, by dressing up in the style of its characters. That means a vintage Edwardian look. For men, a dapper suit and a boater or bowler hat are all you need. For women, think long dresses, ankle boots and wide-brimmed hats with feathers or flowers.
Arts festivals in Ireland such as the Galway International Arts Festival call for a simple yet elegant look: a plain T-shirt, black trousers and leather loafers work well. For Pride, rainbow colours and prints are the obvious choice, and for Halloween festivals, anything from a long black coat to a full costume goes.
Practical festival packing list
- a waterproof jacket or poncho
- comfortable shoes or wellies for outdoor events
- a warm layer for the evenings
- sunglasses and sun cream, because the sun does come out
- a small bag that keeps your phone and cards dry
Going to the Cork Film Festival? We have a separate guide on what to wear to the Cork Film Festival.