Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

Blog by Smilla Kirchmair

When my semester abroad was only a few weeks away I was struggling with my suitcases and packing list. I was flying into Dublin with one big suitcase, one small carry on and my backpack; hence, my space was limited. I want to make your packing experience a little easier by telling you the top 5 things you should take for your semester abroad at the University of Limerick. 

1. Raincoat 

The most important thing to bring is a good Raincoat or waterproof jacket. Ireland is famous for its 4 seasons in a day and the never-ending rain. Make sure to test your jacket before you come to Ireland as some jackets are waterproof to some extent but will leave you wet after hours of Ireland’s rainfall. I also have a rain jacket that can be folded up to be small and it can easily be stored in a backpack. This allows me to be prepared for unexpected rain and keeps me dry whenever I need it. Don’t let the weather fool you as it may look marry and bright in the morning when you leave the house, but it can change in minutes to rain and even hailstorms. Believe me I have seen it all!  Also, leave your umbrella at home. The rain is accompanied by strong winds which will turn your umbrella inside out in seconds and break it. Furthermore, the rain will hit you from all sides so the umbrella will not keep you dry. Invest in a good raincoat that covers most of you to keep you dry. 

2. Walking/running shoes 

The Campus life involves a lot of walking. Even with on campus accommodation you will be walking from your house to the University and back almost every day and it is usually a 15-minute walk. Leave your pretty shoes and heels at home and bring a good pair of tennis or even running shoes. I have decided to bring my running shoes that I can use for runs, everyday walking and trips that involve a lot of walking. Most of the students will use the opportunity of being in Ireland to travel through it as well. The university even organises bus tours for you, which will give you the opportunity to see various cities and sights around the isle. You will need comfortable shoes for all those activities for sure. Even when you decide to go out in the city to experience the pub culture in Ireland the walk to the bus can feel like forever in heels and most people wear tennis shoes anyway. Safe yourself from the pain and just take a pair of white sneakers that match most outfits and a pair of comfortable walking/running shoes. You will need nothing else in Ireland! Just make sure your shoes are waterproof or at least sprayed to keep your feet dry during rain. 

3. Outlet adaptor 

Make sure you bring at least one adaptor for the outlets that transform the socket to one you can use with your chargers. I purchased one online which transforms to a regular EU outlet and has two USB-C outlets as well. It was fairly cheap but works wonders. It can be extremely frustrating when you arrive at night on you first day and you have no idea of the campus and the city yet and you can’t charge your phone at night before you can buy one at the stores. Believe me when I say you will need your phone and Google Maps for the first few days to find everything on and off Campus. Outlet adaptors can be easily purchased online or in most stores that sell travel equipment. When shit hits the fan you can even buy them at the airport, but I do highly recommend having at least one when you arrive in Limerick. Additional ones can be bought at Spar on Campus or the Spar at the flagpoles next to Plassey village. 

4. Warm clothes / layers 

While the climate in Ireland is relatively mild regarding coastal temperatures, I feel like the wind and rain makes every day feel cold. I would recommend anyone to bring multiple layers of clothing that you can comfortably wear every day. Bring a pair of leggings for under your jeans on cold and rainy days and a top and long-sleeved shirt. Also, if you want to express yourself through clothes, make sure your favourite sweaters and jackets are packed as those will be the items of clothing other will see. It is just too cold to only wear a shirt. You should also bring some warm socks maybe even wool socks in Winter. The floors in the villages a rather cold which is why you should wear fuzzy socks or slippers. Make sure you also have more layers for your legs and upper body. I sometimes wear a top, long-sleeved shirt and a hoodie over it. I also have multiple jackets that I can layer as well, which means I have a light jacket that I can easily wear a raincoat over. 

5. Camera 

Last but definitely not least bring your camera or enough storage on your phone. Ireland is an incredible Island with breathtaking landscapes. You can travel through Ireland from Limerick and see incredible cities and nature. When you have a good camera you can capture the amazing green grass, sheep, and stone walls at any time. The organised bus tours are also great opportunities to discover the isle. Without my camera I would not have been able to capture all my memories and look back in the future and see the Island again. I have also made a photo-album to remember all the times and have physical copies to show others my time abroad.