Lace up your runners and step into the heart of Irish sports culture. In Ireland, sports apparel isn’t just something you throw on for a quick jog along the Liffey or a kickabout in Phoenix Park. It’s a part of local identity, woven into community life from GAA clubs in the countryside to bustling gyms in Dublin’s Docklands. But when you pop into Elverys or O’Neill’s, you’ll notice that nobody sticks to just one name for these clothes. Sports apparel goes by many, many names in Ireland, and the phrases people use often say as much about them as their hometown or team colours.

What Do People in Ireland Call Sports Apparel?

Forget about keeping it simple—if you ask ten Irish people what they call sports apparel, you’ll probably get a dozen answers. The most common alternative is sportswear. You won’t find an Irish gym, pitch, or park without people chatting about ‘sportswear’, whether they mean leggings for a morning Pilates class or a Clare GAA jersey for match day. Other popular names include ‘athletic wear’, ‘training gear’, and ‘activewear’. Younger Dubliners might casually mention ‘gym clothes’, while those from Cork could just say ‘kit’—especially when talking about a team uniform for a local soccer or camogie squad.

Irish GAA fans take things a step further, calling their gear ‘strips’ or ‘jersies’ (yes, with that special Irish pronunciation), especially if they’re repping their county on hallowed Croke Park turf. ‘Kit’ is another catch-all term, often reserved for a full head-to-toe look, from shorts to socks, whether it’s for football, hurling, or even the annual charity run for Pieta House. Meanwhile, teens and trend-chasers in Galway and Limerick might just say ‘trackies’ or ‘tracksuit’, giving a nod to the ever-classic Adidas pants seen on streets and schoolyard pitches alike.

Roots, Traditions, and How Names Evolved

The language around sports clothing reflects the country’s quirks, communities, and history. ‘GAA strip’ immediately brings to mind Sunday matches watched with a sandwich in hand, parents cheering on their own in matching club colours, and that unmistakable pride of pulling on the green and gold (or maroon, blue, red, depending on your Leinster or Munster loyalties). The word ‘kit’—borrowed from British football culture—has become fully localised in Ireland, especially among soccer fans in Tallaght or Inchicore. For rugby, ‘jersey’ carries real weight, especially if it’s a Munster or Leinster shirt—something you pass down, not just pick up on sale.

Brands play a huge role too. O’Neill’s, founded in Dublin in 1918, is more than just a sportswear company—it’s part of the fabric of Irish school life, dominating the kits for countless clubs. Another homegrown player, Connacht Clothing, appeals to athletes wanting that small-batch local feel. Sure, Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour are everywhere, but ask around Glasnevin or Skibbereen and watch eyes light up at the mention of a vintage O’Neill’s tracksuit. Names like ‘activewear’ started cropping up with the rise of yoga and wellness classes—especially popular in cities like Cork and Belfast, where packed spin studios have people talking more about moisture-wicking fabrics than traditional GAA colours.

Traditions also shape the gear itself. Do you know why the GAA uniform is called a ‘strip’? Originally, county teams would share jerseys, swapping them between matches (not as glamorous as it sounds after a muddy game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh). These days, new terms keep popping up, with every fashion wave—like ‘athleisure’. But in Ireland, the mixture of proud club legacy, sporty everyday life, and new wellness trends means people keep reinventing what they call their kit and how they wear it.

Sports Apparel: What to Look for in the Irish Market

Sportswear isn’t one-size-fits-all across Ireland, not with the wind howling across the Cliffs of Moher or the sogginess of a November training night in Donegal. What you’re called to wear and what you actually need can be two totally different things. When shopping around—be it in Life Style Sports near Grafton Street or a small-town shop in Ennis—watch for the quality of materials. Irish weather means water-repellent jackets, thermal leggings, and proper base layers matter. Quick-drying fabrics are prized not just for runners pounding the canal but for any parent, coach, or player waiting out a mid-match downpour.

Here’s a simple checklist:

• Is it weatherproof? Check for a decent waterproof rating and wind-resistance—a must for winter matches or trail runs in the Wicklow Mountains.
• Is it durable? O’Neill’s shorts can last a decade (or more) if washed properly, while imported brands are sometimes more style than substance.
• Does it suit the sport? GAA shorts have specific cuts and pockets for hurling, while runners often want reflective panels for those early morning laps around the Phoenix Park.
• Is it made locally? Irish athletics are proud of their native brands, and picking up a jersey ‘Made in Ireland’ keeps the money in local hands.

If you’re buying gear for your kids’ club season, double check club rules—some require official strips, others are more relaxed about which ‘tracksuit bottoms’ are allowed. At larger events like the Dublin Marathon or Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, most athletes go with performance ‘activewear’, but you’ll still see old O’Neill’s or Umbro kits worn for good luck or out of habit.

And for anyone worried about matching style with function: athleisure has swept through the Irish retail market. It’s normal now to see people in trainers and leggings grabbing a coffee or running errands in cities like Waterford. Comfort, breathability, and layering options matter just as much as brand names or club colours—especially if you want clothes that can handle a bit of everything, from a run on Dollymount strand to an evening Pilates session.

Popular Irish Brands and the Rise of Athleisure

If you had to pick just one word that sums up the Irish approach to sports apparel, it’s probably ‘practical’. Still, there’s plenty of local pride and style thrown in. O’Neill’s stands unrivalled in terms of club kits for GAA, soccer, and rugby, supplying everyone from youth teams to inter-county champions. Irish rugby fans are loyal to Canterbury and the IRFU shop, while runners often favour ASICS for shoes, but they swing local for socks and apparel.

The rise of athleisure has shifted things. Places like Gym+Coffee (founded in Dublin in 2017) now define the blend between functional and urban-cool, with hoodies and joggers designed for both a session at the climbing wall and a chat over flat whites in Ranelagh. Even Penny’s—yes, what the rest of Europe calls Primark—has bulked up its activewear lines, making affordable sports gear a real option for students and young families across the country.

Irish expats love bringing home stripes from O’Neill’s stores abroad—they’re a link to home, something experts at Bord Bia credit for boosting Ireland’s global sportswear image. Social media has sped up the change: now, people expect to spot the latest kit drops and club collaborations online before they reach the shelves. Local influencers highlight everything from sustainable yoga wear (think Siobhán Murray’s endorsements) to classic Umbro kits reimagined for retro-chic.

Here’s a quick look at some favourite brands and their standouts:

More eco-friendly Irish companies have popped up in recent years, like Fresh Cuts and Nativo Active, selling ethically sourced activewear designed for Ireland’s unpredictable climate. Some stores even let you personalise your kit—adding club, county, or even your Irish name to a hoodie or shorts. Nutrition shops are getting in on it, too, selling their own branded ‘sweat tops’ for the health-conscious gym crowd. As for where to shop, don’t underestimate the village sports shop, especially around back-to-school time. That’s often where you’ll find a mum picking up the exact shade of maroon needed for the local U-14 hurling team.

Tips for Buying and Looking After Your Gear in Ireland

Finding great sports apparel in Ireland can be easy if you follow a few golden rules. Shop out of season—most stores in Dublin or Galway slash prices after school and club seasons end, so that’s a perfect time to grab a few staples. Go for multipurpose pieces, like a water-repellent jacket you can wear both on a Belfast hike and at a freezing Sunday sideline. Try before you buy if you can, especially with shorts and bras: sizes can differ wildly between international and Irish brands. If you’re shopping online, check the returns policy and ask around for sizing advice—Irish Reddit, Instagram, and even local Facebook groups are goldmines for real-life reviews.

To keep your kit fresh (literally), always follow the wash label. With all that muck and rain, it’s tempting to toss everything on high heat, but that can destroy prints and shrinkage-resistant tech fabrics. Most people in Ireland swear by line-drying outside—even in winter, a frosty morning is better for removing GAA grass stains than a quick tumble dry. Store your better gear for the off-season; it’ll last longer if you don’t wear the same two pairs of shorts to every training session from January to December.

• Check seams and fastenings, especially if you play contact sports.
• If you do loads of team sports, invest in a personalised kit bag to avoid kit mix-ups on busy matchdays.
• Rotate shoes regularly—Irish runners get pounded, not just by feet but by rain, mud, and peat bogs!
• Remember: local is often best. Buying Irish supports the same clubs and athletes you see on TV or at your local park.

If you’re not sure about a brand or product, just ask. Irish shop assistants love to share advice, and there’s always a chat to be had about which ‘tracksuit’ will hold up during rainy warm-ups or which ‘jersey’ is best for marathon spectatorship. And don’t stress about the lingo. Whether you call it gear, kit, strip, or simply workout clothes, being in Ireland means you’re always part of the club.