One question I get asked again and again is: what should I bring with me on my holiday to Ireland? I always hesitate to give advice on packing because try as I might, I am far from an efficient packer! I inevitably come home from a holiday with a bag full of clothes I didn’t wear and things I regret bringing! The same happened to me again recently when visiting some of our favorite parts of Ireland with friends from abroad, but one pair of shoes I was quite glad I brought on all my adventures was the Vivaia Aria 5° flats. They were so perfect for gentler walks and still felt chic when I wore them with a dress in the evening to go to dinner. This pair is also made from hemp, making it breathable and perfect for the warmer weather we’ve been experiencing lately. I’m definitely including a pair of Vivaia flats on future trips as well (they’re also handy with how light they are so they barely take up any space in my suitcase) and thought I should share some other tips on what to bring with you on your trip to Ireland. wearing Emmy Design Sweden cardigan, AmyJoyLondon dress, Aria 5° Hemp Flat Shoes by Vivaia, old basket Always bring a rain jacket! No matter the season you visit Ireland in or type of activities you prefer, waterproofs are a must. Winter can be mild, summer can be cold, but you will almost always get rain. Sometimes it’s only a gentle mizzling rain, sometimes it’s lashing at you sideways on the top of the Cliffs of Moher! A good rain jacket will help keep you dry no matter the conditions while also being lightweight compared to an umbrella. I don’t often feature my rain jackets since I don’t like taking pictures in the rain to avoid damaging my camera, but they’re probably some of the most worn pieces in my closet and I never go on a trip around Ireland without one.

I still hesitate to call myself a local in Ireland despite living here for seven years, however I do have the benefit of a true local (my husband) to offer travel advice. We’ve visited Wicklow a few times now and no matter the season it is one of my favorite counties in Ireland with truly breathtaking scenery and so much history. We visited recently in May which confirmed my personal theory that May is one of the best months to explore Ireland—in May every where is green again; the hedgerows are full of blooming hawthorn trees and cow parsley and the woods are dotted with bluebells. Wicklow is an especially lovely place to visit in this month because of all of the lovely gardens that populate this region. Here are some of my top tips for exploring this county with suggestions on what to see and where to eat.

The best time to visit Glendalough

Glendalough, an early medieval monastic settlement that dates back to the 6th century is well worth the visit, however if you go in the middle of the day brace yourself for some crowds. Thankfully from May through to September sunset is late in Ireland, so you don’t need to visit here in the prime hours to get a good view. Weave between the tumbling gravestones and scenic trails down to the water from 6PM onwards and you’ll barely see another soul. In the summer months sunset will be between 9-10PM so you’ll have several hours to explore by yourself.

Where to eat

Just down the road from Glendalough’s Monastic City you’ll find the charming, family-run Wicklow Heather restaurant. This spot is very popular and tables fill fast so try to book in advance. The restaurant is filled to the brim with antiques and charming decor—and one of the rooms is dedicated to Irish authors. The menu features a lot of local and fresh ingredients and the desserts are worth saving space for.

Best garden

Wicklow is known as the “Garden of Ireland” so visiting a garden on your visit to this county is a must and there are many to choose from. My top pick is Mount Usher; around 22 acres of a sprawling Robinsonian style garden designed along the banks of the River Varty. It has a beautiful, informal design that complements the natural landscape and boasts a wide variety of trees and flowering plants. You can also browse a small shopping center at the start of the garden with everything from plants to linen clothes and local produce.

Don’t miss Avoca

Avoca Handweavers is the oldest working woolen mills in Ireland and one of the world’s oldest manufacturing companies. While Avoca still makes woolen garments today, the shop has become so much more with a mix of retail and food and legendary cooking books. Avoca started in Wicklow and there are a few of their shops scattered around the county (including one in Mount Usher), but for the full experience head to their flagship store in Avoca Village. On the banks of Avoca river you’ll find their store, cafe, and mill. At this location you can see a demonstration of handwaving at the visitor centre and walk through some of the history of the region. One of the real draws of any Avoca store though is it’s cafe.

Find a folly

For a more formal garden with ornate fountains and Grecian sculptures stop by Powerscourt Estate and Gardens. One of my favorite features in this majestic garden was the Pepperpot—a miniature castle folly. Follies are buildings (and bridges and roads) built for decorative purposes and designed to look old; some resemble ruined walls and churches, while others like the Pepperpot take inspiration from fairytale castles. Around the corner you’ll also find the Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall cascading at the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains.

For the art lover

Scene of one of the most infamous art heists in Irish history, Russborough House is stunning Georgian house in the heart of West Wicklow built in the mid-1700s. Today is holds one of the largest private collections of European fine and decorative arts in Ireland. The Beit family were among the most important collectors of the late 19th and 20th centuries and their collection can still be appreciated in the house and beyond today. Many works are on loan to various museums, but the house is still brimming with Dutch masters and even a Singer Sargent portrait.

A hidden gem

A recent work trip took us to County Cork where we stumbled across this gem of a manor house you can stay in! Thomas really is an expert at finding romantic, quirky getaway locations and Glenville Park was a rustic dream. I didn't get any pictures in the sprawling garden, but I did take a few pictures in our beautiful toile wallpapered room and the manor house's cozy library filled with vintage books. This manor house is listed in airbnb and it's super affordable if you're looking for a romantic, laidback getaway in the region. It's a perfect spot to explore around Cork which is a really beautiful region full of castles, formal gardens, epic hikes, etc. We haven't been able to travel around Ireland much in the last couple of years due to restrictions so I'm hoping we can book another trip to stay in this lovely manor house again soon. I brought my favorite summer dress on this trip: the Thimbleweed I designed with Nour & the Merchant. This is the last month you can shop my limited capsule collection! I'll be sad to see these pieces go, but I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to design them with Cristina. The Thimbleweed specifically was born of my love for long linen dresses but my desire for a flattering silhouette that I never saw in the stores. I feel like linen dresses are often cut very loose or if they're more fitted they feature buttons...I have a love/hate relationship with button-up dresses. I love them, but I also dislike how they gap if the fit isn't perfect and they all feature very high necklines. I wanted a linen dress that was fitted on top, a full skirt, and a scoop neck (plus puff sleeves!) and Cristina did a wonderful job making this piece come to life. As we worked on it more we added more personal details; the ruffle about the sleeves the echo the sepals of a flower, the optional embroidery with different animals and plants, etc. And we expanded the option from one white linen fabric to a huge array of colors, even some darker tones appropriate for autumn. It's honestly such a dream dress for any linen lover who also wants something romantic with a more open neckline and in their favorite color. P.S. There are only four sizes available of this dress listed on Nour & the Merchant, but for a small fee Cristina also offers custom sizing and you can make a number of custom changes if you want as well--like a shorter or longer skirt! So this, and the rest of my collection, can be made in any size you need. Every dress is made when you place your order at her atelier in Italy using sustainable materials from a team earning a living wage too.    One of my favorite rooms in Glenville Park was the library. Towering wooden shelves full of leatherbound tomes and some real vintage gems. There were cozy seats for lounging in and even a less cottagecore-y pingpong table in the adjoining room! This settee was so comfortable; it was like sinking into a warm hug at the end of the day and we loved the views from the window. All of the toile wallpaper pictures were taken in the room we stayed in and I'd recommend asking for that room specifically because it was delightful. One of the things I love about staying in manor houses like this one is all the quirky architectural details. They don't make houses with this many interesting features anymore and when a house is this old as well it has a collection of antique bits and bobs stored in little corners that are fun to discover. It's an old house so that comes with quirks--a dramatic entryway, enormous windows, but also spotty wifi, creaky stairs, the occasional stubborn lock! Personally we love staying in a place with charm and soul, so we would book this house again in a heartbeat. The host was also very friendly and gave us so much free range to explore the house and grounds. When we were out walking in the garden we didn't see another soul so it truly felt as if we were lords of the manor for a few evenings!

Have you heard of the Irish pirate queen Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille)? While the story of her life seems like something from folklore, Grace O'Malley was a real person who came to power in the 16th century (more on her below!). She's a fascinating and inspiring figure that I've really enjoyed learning about over the last few years. When I saw that Celtic Fusion (a sustainable Irish brand) had a Grace O'Malley inspired blouse, I knew I needed it! Not only is it a fun nod to an amazing historic figure, but the pirate shirt is also very flattering and a perfect match for so many pieces in my wardrobe. I often find skirts and pinafore dresses that I like, but I struggle to find blouses to pair them with--so this piece is the perfect addition to my closet! I also love that Celtic Fusion's collections are inspired by Irish figures and legends because as you start browsing through their clothes you start learning a bit more about the history and culture of Ireland. They're also such a lovely brand because not only do they have strong ties to the past and history, but they also have eyes on the future: they make their clothes sustainably and plant native trees in Ireland. It always feels good to know your clothes are inspired by interesting people and stories, but that they're also being made ethically and helping Ireland today. You can use my code "aclotheshorse" to get 15% off your order at Celtic Fusion (and they have menswear pieces as well!). Grace O'Malley was born into a powerful seafaring family that controlled several castles and much of Western Ireland. Legend says when she was young she aspired to be a sailor but her family discouraged this because she was a girl. Rather than admitting defeat Grace shaved off her hair and disguised herself as a boy. Her father realizing her strength of will relented and allowed her to become a sailor and even had her formally educated. When he passed on she inherited his position, despite having brothers who would typically inherit, and became Queen of Umaill, chieftain of the Ó Máille clan. She was a fearless leader on land and sea and in battle. The facts of her life aren't only verified through Irish stories, but through English documents as well and she even met with Queen Elizabeth I. It's said she refused to bow before Queen Elizabeth because she didn't recognize her as the sovereign of Ireland and was a queen in her own right so saw them as equals. Rumor has it as well that despite wearing a fine gown to court to meet with Queen Elizabeth, a knife was found concealed on Grace when she was inspected by guards! There's so many fun stories surrounding Grace's life, some perhaps exaggerated by time, but we do have verification that she was a real person and fierce leader. This castle isn't one of the many she controlled in Ireland (but it is one of the closest seaside castles to my home), but I'm looking forward to visiting her stronghold one day--the tower castle that still stands on Clare Island. For my Grace O'Malley inspired look I started with Celtic Fusion's pirate queen blouse and paired it with one of my favorite linen skirts. The blouse has so many lovely details from the tie-up bodice, to the shape and knots of the sleeves, and the lace detailing throughout that it really doesn't need much to shine and works with a variety of different skirts and trousers. I also wore a worn leather belt and gold accessories to add to the pirate-y feeling and I thought the hoop earrings were especially necessary. With my jewellery I chose pieces with nautical themes; my shark jaw ring, a starfish, and then moon inspired pieces since the moon controls the tides. I also threw a load of braids and a tiny sword into my hair, although those details became harder to discern since it was so windy and my hair was blowing every which way! Boots would probably have been a more practical choice for a pirate and myself walking along the shore, but the weather was so lovely I just grabbed a basic pair of flats. I feel like it came together as a very wearable every day outfit, but with a lot of details and subtle nods to Grace if you look closely. P.S. Don't forget to use my code "aclotheshorse" for 15% off your order at Celtic Fusion!

I try to draw attention to different independent brands and if there's one brand I think you'll love if you follow my blog, it is: Celtic Fusion Design. Celtic Fusion Design is an independent fashion label based in the west of Ireland and as the name implies the label is inspired by ancient Celtic designs. The clothes feel very connected to history and nature with most designs featuring all natural fibers and folk inspired detailing. They create more traditional items like capes and Tara style brooches, but there's also a number of modern pieces that fuse ancient inspiration with current styles, like the fae knotwork leggings made with a hand blocked print. Personally I was drawn to a number of pieces that fall somewhere between the traditional and modern--a very wearable but pirate inspired blouse, tweed waistcoats, and the folk inspired Harvest dress. The fabric mimics a traditional weave (while being so soft) and the threads aren't dyed, so there's a very natural and earthy feel to this dress. I like the ease of the butterfly sleeves and the tie back style that lets you choose if you want it a bit more fitted or loose. It felt like an appropriate choice to wear while gathering a bit of wild garlic in the woods near my home. If you love this dress or any other pieces by Celtic Fusion Design, use my code "aclotheshorse" for 15% off your order.   Living close to nature has definitely had a direct impact on my style. Shortly after moving here I gave up wearing heels (too impractical on the uneven and often muddy ground!) and fell in love with more natural fabrics (like this one) and tones. I don't spend all day wandering through idyllic woods, but I do live rurally and walk my dog often, so clothes that feel at home on these dirt paths make more sense in my life than the ones I used to wear when I lived in a city. Falling more in love with nature through being so close to it also has made me more aware of my shopping habits, which is why I've spent so much time finding more indie brands and choosing clothes made from natural fibers. I've also learnt so much about the woods and plants in my region--I'm still so far from an expert, but every year I learn a bit more about what I can forage. Wild garlic is always a favorite since it grows in such abundance here, but this year I also tried elf cups and wild violets. When trying to learn more about plants or changing my shopping habits it's good to look to nature as inspiration--we plant seeds but it takes many years for a tree to grow tall or the wood garlic to spread across the forest floor as it does here. We have to actively plant the seeds, but it's still okay to allow growth and change to be something to take seasons and even years. While the dress I'm wearing is one of Celtic Fusion's more simple styles, I really love the thought and imagery that goes into some of their more decorative pieces. I'd like to get a Tara style brooch to wear in the autumn and I love the knot-work detailing that embellishes a number of their pieces. Here's what the designer, Regina Tierney, wrote about the history of Celtic knotwork: While not much is known for sure about the historical purpose of Celtic knotwork (other than decoration), it is clear that they are always cyclical and never-ending. In this way, I have chosen to use Celtic knotwork in my work as a symbol for the endurance of the ancient culture where they originated. Through my designs, I hope to help continue the ideas that Celtic culture symbolises. Using knotwork not only helps to keep that ancient form of art alive, but also continues the never-ending cycle of inspiration. I love that with the never ending knots the past is brought into the present--the chain remains unbroken and can continue for future generations.