Essential Wear For A Trip To Gay Ireland

You know how there are places in the world that can be described in three simple words, like " fun, beach, sun"? Well, gay Ireland is not one of those places. Sure, there's a lot of fun to be had - there are pubs, clubs, sports, and festivals to keep you entertained throughout the year. There are also beaches in Ireland, very beautiful beaches indeed. And the sun also shines... and then it doesn't. And then it does again. And then it rains.

The number one thing that catches the unprepared visitor to Ireland off guard is the weather. You could be enjoying the Pride Festival in Dublin, for example, watching the parade, under the almost warm sun. A couple of minutes later, you can notice that clouds are gathering in a menacing way, and then it starts raining. If you're not familiar with Irish weather, you'll just stand there, without an umbrella, soaking up the rain.

Rain gear is an essential if you're going to Ireland. If you think you don't need it because you'll just hop bars or hang out indoors, you might as well give up on your trip. Gay Ireland has plenty of indoors attractions, but the best of them, including more than five Pride parades that happen during the summer, are held outside. And that's without mentioning all the tours you can take around Ireland's historic cities, and the beautiful nature you should see. So bring an umbrella and waterproof footwear at the very least.

But rain isn't the only weather condition in gay Ireland you need to prepare for. It can get windy pretty quickly in Ireland, and it's also not the warmest place you can visit, not even during summer. In Dublin, for example, the average temperature in July and August is 16°C (or 61°F if you prefer). That's not that warm. On the flipside, the winters don't get too cold either, but the point here is that you should always be prepared to dress in layers. And you should always bring a woollen jumper or cardigan with you. You never know.

Finally, gay Ireland will give you lots of opportunities to go hiking. There are even gay hiking groups that take on Ireland's trails together. If you don't go on one of these hiking trips, you won't forgive yourself. If you go without proper footwear, your feet won't forgive you. Packing a pair of hiking shoes will keep you comfortable during the hikes, and you'll able to focus on the beautiful scenery and the great company instead of how much your feet hurt.

Books To Read On Your Visit To Gay Ireland

Oscar Wilde might be the best known literary giant that came up in what was then the not-so-gay Ireland, but he is not the only one. In fact, if you'd look at Irish literature from the Victorian times until now, you might be surprised at how many great gay authors came up in Ireland. But if you ever heard that stereotype that says that the Irish like to talk, you'd soon figure out that they also like to write. And if you're going on a visit to gay Ireland, here are five novels from noted gay and lesbian Irish authors that can keep you company. 

1. Hood, by Emma Donoghue

Hood is the 1995 novel written by Emma Donoghue, an Irish-Canadian author best known for her novel Room. In Hood, Donoghue's explores the loss and grief that's left after the main character's lesbian lover dies in a car crash. If you need a novel that will convey the dangers of forming a same-sex relationship in a time when Ireland wasn't as tolerant as it is now, but will also focus on how we, as humans, deal with the loss of loved ones - this is a great choice.

2. Biography of Desire, by Mary Dorcey

Mary Dorcey is an Irish author of short stories, novellas, and a novel - Biography of Desire. Dorcey's main characters are two women -  Katherine, a married woman with two children, and Nina, Katherine's first lesbian love. Through their perspectives, Dorcey helps us understand the deep nature of desire, making this a perfect read for those of us who are finding it hard to deal with our own desires.

3. The Master, by Colm Toibin

In The Master, Colm Toibin portrays the American-British writer Henry James through four years of his life, from the failure of one of his plays in London theatre, up to the point preceding a very fruitful part of his writing career. The Master shows all the complexities of James, his family life, and his repression of his own sexuality.

4. De Profundis and Other Prison Writings, by Oscar Wilde

You can't go to gayIreland and not read at least a bit of Oscar Wilde. De Profundis and Other Prison Writings, with an introduction by the great Colm Toibin, are not an obvious choice. But they do hold one of the strangest love letters ever written, De Profundis, and for that reason alone you should give them your attention.