What is "smart casual" dress code?

For the majority of the participants on our internship programmes, the dress code is "smart casual". This primarily means no denim jeans, trainers or t-shirts on the one hand, without requiring a suit or uniform at the other extreme.


While there is no definitive specification for the oxymoronic 'smart casual', we just love the detail in this description from Wikipedia:

Interns: Ambassadors for Ireland

The enthusiastic young people who come to Ireland on internship programmes not only contribute to our tourism sector during their stay, they become outspoken ambassadors for our country on their return home.

The individuals who participate in our internship programmes are typically young, educated and outward-looking. They generally stay between two and six months in Ireland, and during that time they usually take the opportunity to visit the whole country as tourists. They are often joined by family and friends from their country of origin during these trips.

A recent group of interns supporting Guinness

So, internship programmes make a positive contribution to the tourism sector in Ireland.

Much more interesting, however, is that having lived here, these young people are perceived as experts on Ireland by their friends, family and acquaintances. In overwhelming numbers, they also have huge affection for our country and culture, and they return time and again to Ireland throughout their lives, this time bringing others and spending more on accommodation, restaurants and so on.

It doesn't usually rain this much.... honest!

Since a group of 50 internship participants arrived in Dublin from Spain in early August, the weather has been terrible.

The record rainfall, according to the Irish Met Office, is:
* 177.7 millimeters of rain in the first 17 days of August, more than double the August average
* on Saturday August 9th, a record 76.2 millimeters of rain fell on Dublin, the second highest daily rate of rainfall in any month since records began

Of course, the interns did not expect the current 35 degree heat and sunshine of Madrid, but we feel terrible for them enduring these conditions.

They are keeping spirits high, however, and have spent time visiting Trinity College and Temple Bar, with plans to travel to Belfast and the Giant's Causeway this weekend, as well as dropping in on the wonderful Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire.

We hope the rain stays mainly on the plain in Spain for the next two weeks so our Spanish visitors get a break.... at least this explains why our countryside is so green and lush!