1. A jumper with arms long enough to tie around your waist
Sure it’ll be chilly later. Or what if you sit in the shade and there’s a bit of a breeze?
Also acceptable: a light jacket.
2. ‘Cans by the canal’ accomplice
Irish people are like Pavlov’s dogs. The first whiff of sunshine and we find ourselves inexplicably drawn towards a six pack of Bavaria and the nearest canal bank.
You’ll need an accomplice, though, to make you feel better about yourself.
3. Sunglasses, for the reflected glare off pasty topless men
There WILL be topless men. They WILL be pasty. And that’s what sunny days in Ireland are all about.
4. Suncream (left at home)
“Sure I won’t need it. It’s only May.”
Three hours later *frantically buys family pack of aftersun*
4. Your inner Mammy
You will find this lexicon useful:
- Lovely to be able to sit out.
- Would you say that’s burned?
- It’s nearly TOO hot.
5. Someone you know who has to study for exams
So you can send them cans-by-the-canal selfies, but also just to give you that sweet inner feeling of smugness.
6. One item from your over-optimistic summer wardrobe
AKA that one thing you bought last year in a fit of sun-induced hysteria, possibly while on holiday, and have never worn because it’s totally impractical for Ireland.
GODDAMMIT I WILL WEAR THIS AT LEAST ONCE AND THIS IS THE DAY – your inner voice.
7. And finally, someone to tell you when the sunshine is going to end
The First Rule of Irish Summer: on any sunny day, there will be someone around to look at the cloudless sky all unimpressed and go “Apparently it’s supposed to bucket down tomorrow.”
It wouldn’t be summer without them.
