If you’ve spent time wandering the streets of Dublin or ducking into a cosy Galway café, you’ve probably noticed that locals waste no time whipping off their jackets the moment they’re inside. Some folks even seem to treat it as a bit of an unwritten rule: jacket off, cuppa in hand, and then you can settle into the warmth. But what’s really behind this habit? It isn’t just about comfort. In Ireland, the simple act of shedding your coat has roots in our unique weather, our houses, our customs, and even our health. Let’s get into why you should always take your jacket off indoors across the Emerald Isle.

Cultural Habits Shaped by the Irish Climate

Irish weather is notoriously fickle. One moment, it’s pouring rain; the next, there’s a burst of glorious sun. Average temperatures in winter hover just above zero, and it’s not unusual to get four seasons in a day—especially along the Wild Atlantic Way. Growing up here, you learn quickly to leave home with a sturdy raincoat, but you also know the second you step inside, that same jacket can make you feel like you’re trapped in a sauna.

In most Irish households, public buildings, pubs, schools, or workspaces, central heating is set to keep everyone just shy of sweating. The standard temperature for Irish homes, especially since the days of oil heating and turf fires, sits around 18–21°C. As soon as you get in from the cold, you notice it: the rush of warmth against your face and the subtle, slow roast you start to feel in all the extra layers. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a rural home in Donegal or a hip shared house in Cork—people simply don’t want to be sweating through their t-shirts while catching up over tea or pints.

This goes deep into Irish manners and social life. Leaving your coat on is often read as a sign you’re not staying, that you’re readying yourself to bolt. At family gatherings or even in offices, a jacket left on indoors says you’re just passing through. Pop your coat off, hang it on the “hall stand,” and you’re showing your host you feel at home.

It’s also a sign of respect. In ancient times—and still in some rural parts—keeping your muddy or weather-smeared outer layer on inside was a definite faux pas. Farming and rural living traditions meant outerwear was for muck, bog, and wind, not for dining or socialising. The change at the door from ‘outside’ to ‘inside’ clothes is part and parcel of Irish life through the ages.

Even big events underscore this: at the Abbey Theatre or Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, you wouldn’t dream of sitting through a play in your parka. You check your jacket at the door—it’s just the done thing.

Why It Feels So Uncomfortable: The Science Bit

There’s more than just tradition at play here—there’s a real reason you feel instantly stuffy if you keep your jacket on inside, particularly in Ireland’s well-insulated modern buildings. Winter jackets—like the popular North Face puffers at Trinity College, or Penneys’ budget-friendly parkas—are built for Irish sleet, wind, and bone-chilling damp, not for toasty spaces where windows are double-glazed and the radiators pump away from late October through to April.

Wearing a jacket inside can mess with your body temperature control. Our bodies regulate heat using a process called thermoregulation. When you come in from the wet and cold, your body wants to rebalance, but if you leave your insulated layers on, you don’t let yourself cool down. That triggers discomfort, extra sweating, and a feeling of stickiness that nobody loves—especially not if you’re headed straight for a meeting or a Saturday brunch at Bewley’s.

There’s also the sweat factor. Studies by the Irish Institute of Public Health suggest that people who leave on heavy coats in heated spaces experience increased perspiration, raising the risk of skin irritation and acne. Even worse, your body ends up ‘confused’—tricked into thinking it’s still outside battling the wind while you’re actually in a snug living room.

Here’s a quick example to show how temperatures can feel depending on circumstances:

Notice that the swings are significant—you’d boil in a puffer at 20°C! No wonder Irish folks have become experts at peeling off outer layers without missing a beat.

Even those short trips—dashing from your car into Tesco, or hopping into a packed LUAS tram—our bodies are trying to work out if it’s cold, damp, warm, or muggy. Irish public transport is another sweat trap: buses and suburban trains are heated to stop condensation, so if you’ve left your jacket on, you’ll feel it within minutes.

Health Benefits: It’s Not Just About Being Cosy

Health professionals here are adamant: taking off your outdoor jacket inside actually protects you from colds and overheating. Most Irish mums will give out to you if you sit for ages in your damp coat—you’ll “catch your death.”

While you don’t technically get sick from being cold, staying in wet or overly warm clothes does lower your defences. The HSE (Health Service Executive) says shedding outerwear helps your immune system focus on fighting germs, not just regulating your sweating and hydration.

If you’ve trudged through heavy rain—which is basically a right of passage in any Irish winter—your jacket will trap dampness against your skin. Take it off and let it dry. Otherwise, that moist layer turns into an incubator for unwanted bacteria. Not ideal, especially if you’re catching a lift to work or sitting in a school classroom all day.

There’s also the issue of dust and pollen. Outdoor jackets—think waxed Barbours or GAA club windcheaters—pick up everything from traffic fumes along O’Connell Street to grass seeds from the Phoenix Park. Leaving those on inside means you’re bringing the outside muck with you, which is bad news for anyone with allergies or asthma.

And let’s not pretend Irish winters don’t come with their flu season dramas. Warm, damp environments help viruses spread. Peeling off that jacket and airing it properly can help reduce how long pathogens stick around, and the less you’re fiddling with zippers and sleeves, the less you’re touching your face—and we all remember how important that lesson was in recent years.

Sports teams across Ireland, from rugby squads to underage camogie teams, make quick jacket removal part of their warm-up at sports halls and gyms. It helps prevent overheating and supports muscle recovery post-training—so it’s not just grannies who know their stuff.

Tips for Navigating Ireland’s Layered Life

If you’re new to Ireland, you’ll soon get the knack for balancing outdoor and indoor clothing. Here are some of the ways the locals make it work—without melting by the fire or freezing on Grafton Street.

• Opt for easy, layer-friendly jackets. Brands like Regatta, Trespass, and even Arnotts’ own-label lines all offer lightweight, breathable coats with zips instead of toggles, making them quick to slip off as soon as you step into townhouses, restaurants, or offices.
• Trust the hallstand tradition. In most traditional and even new Irish homes, there’s usually a coat rack near the door or a utility room for jackets and wellies. Don’t hesitate to use it—it’s there for a reason.
• Know when to ditch heavy gear. At big sporting events, like a Gaelic football match in Croke Park or a Pro12 rugby fixture, coat checks and bag drop services are increasingly common. Light layers make life simpler when the sun breaks through, as it sometimes does (miracles do happen).
• Consider the setting. You won’t see many keeping their coats on inside a snug in Kehoe’s or while shopping in Brown Thomas. But if you’re at a chilly, stone-walled pub in winter, a light jumper under a heavy coat lets you adapt to both.
• Look after your gear. Irish weather can be hard on jackets—waterproof them regularly, and if you get drenched, don’t just let your coat fester in a bag. Hang it to dry, and air it before wearing again.
• If you feel yourself overheating inside, quietly unzip or remove your jacket. You’re not being rude; you’re doing yourself—and everyone else—a favour. Stuffed pubs like The Long Hall can get toasty even in February.
• Travelling for work to Cork or Limerick? Business etiquette says men and women alike should take off their outdoor coats when entering a boardroom. It gives the right impression and saves you from a sweaty back.

If you’re the sort who’s always cold, stick a light cardigan or gilet under your jacket—easy to keep on if the radiators haven’t quite kicked in yet, but not so bulky that you turn into a walking duvet. Dublin’s unpredictable weather means three layers is a safe bet almost any month. Just don’t make your outer coat the one you plan to live in, once you’re past the threshold.

So, next time you head inside—whether it’s Granny’s kitchen in Athlone, a busy pub in Temple Bar, or an office in Ballsbridge—remember, the Irish way is jackets off, relax, and enjoy the craic. You’ll be more comfortable, healthier, and, honestly, you’ll fit right in.