Do People Still Wear Ugg Boots in Ireland?

Walk through Galway’s shop-lined streets on a wet November morning, and you’ll see them-UGG boots, tucked under jeans or wool socks, trudging through puddles near the Spanish Arch. They’re not just hanging in closets anymore. In Ireland, where rain is a daily companion and damp chill seeps into your bones by October, Ugg boots haven’t disappeared-they’ve adapted.

UGG Boots in Ireland: More Than a Trend

Let’s be honest: Ugg boots used to be mocked. They were the punchline of fashion magazines, the footwear of lazy Sundays and TikTok memes. But in Ireland, practicality always wins over trends. When the Atlantic wind hits Connemara at 5°C with a 40km/h gust and your shoes are soaked through by 9 a.m., you don’t care if they look ‘basic.’ You care if they keep your feet dry and warm.

Irish weather doesn’t care about fashion cycles. It rains 220 days a year on average. Dublin gets 750mm annually. Galway? Close to 1,200mm. That’s more than double what London gets. In places like Doolin or the Ring of Kerry, fog rolls in before lunch, and the ground stays muddy for weeks. Ugg boots, with their sheepskin lining and cushioned sole, became an unlikely hero-not because they’re stylish, but because they work.

Why Ugg Boots Survived Here When Other Trends Died

Think about what Irish women actually need from winter footwear. It’s not a runway look. It’s:

• Water resistance (or at least water tolerance)
• Insulation against damp cold
• Non-slip soles for wet cobblestones and muddy lanes
• Easy to slip on after a long day at work or school
• Comfortable enough to wear while hauling groceries from the supermarket or walking the dog in Ballymun

UGG boots check most of those boxes. Not perfectly-they’re not waterproof unless treated-but their thick sheepskin absorbs moisture and dries slowly without losing shape. That’s more than you can say for many designer boots sold in Brown Thomas or Arnotts.

Local retailers noticed. Stores like Claddagh Shoes in Galway and Foot Locker Ireland in Dundrum now stock UGG’s newer waterproof models alongside traditional styles. Even Boots.ie, the Irish pharmacy chain, started carrying them in winter 2024 because customers kept asking. Sales jumped 37% year-over-year in the last three winters, according to Irish Retail Insights.

Real People, Real Stories

Meet Siobhán, a primary school teacher from Cork. She wears her UGG Classic Short boots every day from October to March. "I have three pairs," she says. "One for the classroom, one for the car, one for the garden. My kids think they’re funny-looking, but they also know I don’t complain when it’s raining. They’ve seen me walk from the bus stop to the school gates in slush and not limp. That’s the real win."

Or take Liam, a fisherman’s wife from Howth. She wears hers with thick wool socks while mucking out the chicken coop and walking to the local shop for milk. "I’ve had these boots since 2019," she says. "They’ve survived salt spray, dog mud, and three winters of walking the pier. They don’t look fancy, but they don’t leak. That’s all I need."

These aren’t isolated cases. In Donegal, where temperatures regularly dip below freezing and peat bogs turn into lakes after rain, Ugg boots are quietly replacing rubber wellies for indoor use. People don’t wear them outside in the rain-they wear them inside after coming in from the cold.

What Changed? The Boots Got Smarter

Early UGG boots were pure sheepskin. They soaked up water like a sponge. That’s why they got a bad reputation in wet climates.

But the brand responded. Since 2022, UGG launched its Water Resistant Collection with a proprietary treatment that repels water while keeping the softness. The new Classic II Waterproof boots have sealed seams and a rubber outsole with deep treads-designed for slippery surfaces. You can buy them in Dublin’s Grafton Street, in Limerick’s Crescent Shopping Centre, or online from UGG Ireland’s official site, which ships free to any Irish address.

And the style? It’s evolved too. No longer just the fluffy slipper-boot hybrid from the 2000s. Now there are sleeker silhouettes-ankle-high, with minimal branding, in charcoal, navy, and even olive green. They look less like pajamas and more like a cozy, functional boot you’d see on a woman walking her dog in Phoenix Park.

Who’s Wearing Them Now?

It’s not just teenagers or stay-at-home parents. You’ll spot them on:

• University students in Trinity College, Dublin, after a late-night library session
• Healthcare workers at Cork University Hospital, swapping scrubs for boots before heading home
• Retirees in Wexford, walking the seafront after lunch
• Young professionals in Belfast, wearing them with tailored trousers on casual Fridays

They’re no longer a status symbol. They’re a utility item. Like a good raincoat or a thermal vest. You don’t wear them to impress. You wear them because your feet thank you.

Are They Worth It in Ireland?

At €140-€180, they’re not cheap. But here’s the math:

• A pair of cheap winter boots from Dunnes Stores might last one season before the soles crack.
• A pair of UGGs, if cared for (brushed dry after wet days, treated with a water repellent spray), can last 3-5 years.
• That’s less than €40 per year. Less than the cost of a monthly coffee subscription.

And unlike high-end designer boots that require dry cleaning or special storage, UGGs just sit by the door. You wipe them off. You let them air. You wear them again.

Alternatives in the Irish Market

Of course, there are other options. Clarks offers the Desert Boot Winter, which has a suede upper and a grippy sole. Geox has breathable waterproof models. Irish-made brands like Claddagh Footwear and Shoe City Ireland sell wool-lined boots for €110-€130.

But none match the combination of warmth, comfort, and ease of use that UGGs deliver. If you’re looking for something that feels like walking on a cloud after a 12-hour shift in a hospital, or after chasing kids through a muddy field in Wicklow, UGGs still hold the crown.

The Verdict

Yes, people still wear Ugg boots in Ireland. Not because they’re trendy. Not because they’re Instagram-worthy. But because they’re the quiet solution to a very Irish problem: staying warm and dry when the weather refuses to cooperate.

They’re not the only option. But in a country where the ground is often wet, the wind is always biting, and comfort matters more than appearance, Ugg boots aren’t just hanging around-they’re here to stay.