You’re about to visit Ireland or chat online with someone from Cork, and you want to fit in—at least with your footwear talk. Should you say “trainers,” “sneakers,” or something else entirely? In Ireland, folks usually call those comfy shoes you wear for running or heading to the gym “runners.” Yep, not trainers. Ask a ten-year-old in Dublin about his favorite sneakers, and he’ll point down and say, “My runners!”
This isn’t just weird slang to mess with tourists. If you walk into a sports shop in Ireland and ask for trainers, you’ll still get what you want, but “runners” is the word locals use without thinking twice. Even the price tags and ads use it. My own kids, Milo and Aria, have had more pairs of “runners” than I have socks—trust me, the word sticks.
- The Irish Word for Trainers
- How Irish Slang Sets Itself Apart
- Shopping for Trainers in Ireland: Tips You’ll Need
- Fun Footwear Facts from the Emerald Isle
The Irish Word for Trainers
Walk into any Irish home, school, or playground, and ask about those athletic shoes on everyone’s feet—you’ll hear “runners” thrown around way more than “trainers” or “sneakers.” The word is rooted in everyday speech, shopping chats, and even on signs in sports shops all over the country. If you’re used to British English, where “trainers” is the go-to term, or American English with “sneakers,” this can trip you up at first. But in Ireland, “runners” is what gets the point across every time.
This isn’t just something you’ll hear from the younger crowd. You’ll see it everywhere, from sale posters—"Runners €20 Off!"—to school supply lists, right next to uniforms and lunchboxes. It’s become such a fixture that using anything else almost feels out of place. Even big international sports brands switch up their signage when advertising in Ireland. The Irish Times once summed it up perfectly in a piece about language quirks:
“You’d be hard-pressed to find an Irish child asking their mam for a new pair of sneakers. Runners, always runners.”
The numbers back this up, too. Here’s a quick look at how Ireland stacks up with other English-speaking countries when it comes to what to call trainers:
| Country | Common Term | Popularity (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Runners | 88% |
| United Kingdom | Trainers | 83% |
| United States | Sneakers | 91% |
| Australia | Runners | 67% |
If you’re shopping, talking sport, or just having a cuppa with Irish friends, “runners” will always land just right. For tourists, it can actually be kind of fun to throw the term into your own speech and see folks smile. And if you’re helping your kid get ready for school in Dublin or Galway, just make sure those runners are laced up tight—they’ll be the talk of the playground.
How Irish Slang Sets Itself Apart
Irish slang isn’t just about sounding different for the fun of it—it actually comes from real-life habits, local history, and a bit of Irish stubbornness. When it comes to shoes, what people in the U.S. call “sneakers,” and what the English call “trainers,” the Irish proudly call “runners.” This isn’t just a nickname; it’s the everyday word. My own son, Milo, almost never calls them anything else, and neither does anyone at his school in Galway.
The reason for the difference? It’s mostly about influence and culture. In Ireland, “runners” makes sense because, at first, most people used them for PE (Physical Education)—basically, running around a field. Over the years, even as people started wearing them every day, the word stuck.
Compare that with the UK, where “trainers” caught on because of the idea of “training” for sports—not just running. Across the Atlantic, Americans mostly stuck with “sneakers” (because of how quietly you could sneak around in them, no joke). So, even though all these words mean the same thing, Ireland made “runners” part of its normal talk.
- If you say “runners” in a Dublin store, you’ll sound like you actually know what you’re talking about.
- Textbooks in Irish schools even use “runners” instead of “trainers.”
- Kids and adults use the word with zero confusion—“runners” is the label on shoe shelves from Cork to Belfast.
Let’s look at just how much these words change between regions. Here’s a quick comparison across three English-speaking countries:
| Country | Common Word |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Runners |
| UK | Trainers |
| USA | Sneakers |
Point is, sticking with “runners” in Ireland is not just slang—it’s part of daily life. If you want to blend in or just not sound like a tourist, use the local word next time you talk about those comfy street shoes.
Shopping for Trainers in Ireland: Tips You’ll Need
If you’re heading out to buy new kicks in Ireland, you want to keep a couple of things in mind—unless you’re cool with blank stares from the staff. First, use the word “runners.” It’ll make you sound like a local. If you ask for trainers, staff will still get it, but “runners” is what’s on the signs and shoeboxes 99% of the time.
Shoe sizing is another area where people get tripped up. Irish shoe sizes follow the UK standard, not US or European, and the difference can throw you off if you don’t check beforehand. For example, a UK men’s size 8 is a US men’s size 9. Same for kids—my son Milo is convinced he grew a foot overnight because his “runner” size number jumped when we moved between the US and Ireland.
Here's a quick look at size conversions:
| UK Size | US Men | US Women | EU Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 39 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 42 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 45 |
If you’re shopping online or in-store, double check the return policy. Irish shops like Sports Direct and JD Sports do offer returns or exchanges, but only for unused shoes with the original receipt. Some deals let you return within 14 to 28 days, but it pays to ask, especially during sales season.
- Always try on runners—you’ll find brands fit differently, even if they’re the same number.
- Look for the word “runners” on Irish sports shop shelves or websites.
- If you’re bringing shoes home, remember that tax-free shopping is an option for visitors from outside the EU—just ask at checkout.
If you’re on a budget, you’ll notice prices for name-brand runners can be 10–20% higher in Ireland compared to the US. The deals pop up during end-of-season sales, so keep an eye out in January and July. And don’t be shy about asking for discounts. Irish shop staff are usually easy-going and don’t mind a bit of friendly haggling, especially if you’re picking up two pairs for your kids like I do with Milo and Aria.
Fun Footwear Facts from the Emerald Isle
Irish folks are known for their quick wit, but their take on shoes is more straight-up than you might expect. For starters, the term "runners" has been around since at least the 1970s in Ireland. You’ll rarely hear anyone under the age of sixty say "sneakers" or "trainers," unless they’ve spent a while in the UK or the States. Even Irish school uniforms often have strict rules about what kind of runners you can wear—no crazy colors, and forget about light-up soles.
Here’s a bit of fun: The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) used to ban certain types of footwear for Gaelic football and hurling. Only "football boots" with specific stud counts were allowed for matches in the 1990s. Nowadays, most kids wear regular runners to practice, unless it’s match day when those classic boots make an appearance.
You’ll also see Irish sports stores packed with international brands, but the ads and signs nearly always say "runners." The Irish Times put it best:
"‘Runners’ is the word that sticks like glue here. Say ‘sneakers’ in Limerick and you’ll just get funny looks."
Some fun tips if you’re visiting:
- Ask for "runners" if you need sporty shoes—they’ll know what you mean straight away.
- Kids call fancy ones "flash runners" if they’ve got lots of bright colors.
- Adults might talk about needing new runners for a "fun run" or a charity walk—never a marathon, just a friendly neighborhood event.
So if you ever plan a trip, remember the Irish don’t care much for the word trainers. "Runners" will get you the shoes you want—and maybe a smile for sounding like a local.
