What would you bring home from Ireland?
 

I am going to Ireland (Dublin, Cliffs of Moher, Connemare, Galway, Shannon) in the middle of March. I like to bring back souvenirs that are meaningful but not so touristy. Do you have any recommendations? Foods, housewares, scarves, etc.? What did you bring back that you love?

Honest answer: The deed to a West or North Cork property.

:)

But, since you can probably ill-afford THAT as much as I can ... My wife collects pottery from various local potters. A piece of crafted Connemara marble makes a nice keepsake, as well. If you live in a moderately cool climate, some hand woven woolen tweed is also quite popular.

Bob

Well darlin' there ain't much out there which isn't touristy!
Don't be ashamed of bring back tea towels/kitchn towels that have all kinds of slogans, recipes, dancing girls doing the Irish Fling, etc. When washed the are soft and make glorious placemats at an informal barbeque!
I managed to get my grandson a little yacht at a craft shop as his room is totslly decked out in a nautical theme. Also in the village of Cong a shop was selling handmade childrens puzzles all beautifully carved. Expensive but he got one.
For mum, a lovely brooch - not a four leaf clover!
For friends, a fridge magnet recipe book with famous Irish recipes!
Scarves are aplenty but bulky. Foodstuffs are mostly whisky marmalades & preserves of some kind. Heavy & bulky!
Hope I've given you some ideas but its hard thinking back to all the stuff we saw.
Oh! a last one but also expensive. Original water colour paintings in all sizes and of various Irish scenery ready to put at the bottom of your suitcase.

Items carved from bogwood have been great successes for me. This includes high Crosses, harps, cats and many more. Also Connemara marble Christmas ornaments were well received.

You might consider buying a few prize bonds for yourself. This is a government lottery and the interest is used to pay the prizes -some of which exceed a million dollars. You are in every monthly draw for life if you invest 25 euros. Application forms are in post offices. I won 100 euros myself many years after I bought a few. See www.prizebonds.ie for details.

I’d bring back Andrea Corr.

Failing that, one of the better whiskeys. You can get Irish whiskeys in Ireland that aren’t commonly available elsewhere (although bizarrely if you want poteen you have to go to England).

Cholmondley. Your wrong, you can now buy poteen in Ireland. Its been legal since 1997 although its been legal for export since 1989. Like most things that were once illegal and then become legal, its sort of not the same. Answering the op. Depends who you are going with, many visitors are just glad to get back with their liver intact.

We went to Belleek to the factory showroom and purchased items to take home. That is north of where you will be going.
Other things we brought home was whiskey, stocking caps, small ceramic figurine of the cross tombstones, for the kids the Irish whistles.

Connemara Celtic Crystal in Moycullen near Galway has beautiful things, and you can tour the factory.

Too bad you aren't going to Donegal or you could purchase some lovely things from the Sisters of Grace.

I like Christmas ornaments - small, easy to pack and a nice memory each year when you take them out. We saw lots of nice ones including handmade pottery Celtic crosses.

I bought a few pieces of Heather jewelry. They slice the heather so you see lovely colors in the core, flatten and polish it and set it in jewelry. Always a conversation piece.

For small souveniers, I actually go into the "tacky' souvenier shops because everything is really cheap and I'm able to pick up coasters (a friend loved the set with the different colored doors), little stone houses for Christmas ornaments, socks with things like shamrocks, etc. My friends always get a kick out of silly gifts like this.

Thanks for all the ideas so far. I should clarify myself...I love the touristy souvenirs too. I try to get a magnet, post cards, etc from every place I travel. I just like to bring back some things that are unique as well. I'm loving all of the ideas. Keep them coming. :)

You have to get a "Claddah" (sp?) ring from Galway!

Maybe a nice warm Irish Cable Knit sweater!

CW, good choice :)

I brought back a couple of sewaters, one from Aran.

In Dublin I found a good selection of not so tacky stuff in the gift shop of the National Gallery.
I also usually bring a big pack of Lyons tea. Costs close to nothing, weighs nothing.
Kids/teenagers may like the usual t-shirts etc., either the touristy outfits or uni shirts as from Trinity college in Dublin. That and other college/uni paraphernalia is quite unique, obviously.

I went into a couple of local music shops and brought home music by Damien Rice, Interference and the Frames - love 'em all. (I know you can get it here, it just feels better knowing I got it there and supported a local business).

How about a bodhrán? Some have beautiful Celtic designs. It won't weigh much but does take up some room, so pack it carefully in your stow-away luggage stuffed with clothes to protect it.

Oh, Oh, I know this one!!

In Dingle, and I am sure you can find similar spots elswhere, I went into this little shop and ordered a Fishermans Knit Sweater. I chose the color of the yarn, the pattern, the buttons. It was custom made for me, hand knit, and arrived about 5-6 weeks after I arrived home. I live in Florida and don't get too much opportunity to wear it, but every time I do, I get compliments. More important, everytime I wear it, I remember Ireland!

If you have beer lover friends, buy them a Guinness t-shirt. You can get them here, of course, but if you get the right salesperson, there are some which you can purchase only there.

Book shops are a sure thing, especially for kids' books. Faber and Faber (UK) have beautifully illustrated books for children that are not sold here, at least in retail stores. We bought "The Names Upon the Harp", but while it proved to be too dark for our young grandchildren, any adult myth lover is sure to treasure it.

For spirits, like Jameson, wait for the duty-free shop at the airport.

Having been to Ireland on several occassions, I always try to pick up items that cannot be bought (without some effort) here in the states. One of my most prized posessions is my Foxford throw. Foxford is a woolen mill NE of Galway towards Sligo. I just love it. Also, Irish linen. I got my mom a cover for a small round table that was hand embroidered with different flowers that are common to Ireland. Another suggestion is the crystal. I can buy Waterford here and do not bother purchasing that there; however, I have some gorgeous pieces of Galway crystal. Just a few suggestions. Have fun!

Like catherinehaas, I like buying things that are difficult to get elsewhere. I try to buy local artists or crafters stuff - jewelry, handmade scarves, etc. Something I can wear and use and remember my trip. I have a couple bogwood sculptures as well, and some basic primer books in Irish. I also got a copy of a book written by a Blasket Island resident. Sure, I might have found it on amazon - but I prefer to buy it there :)

Anything with Celtic knotwork catches my eye :)

I brought back beautiful Irish sweaters -- not the fisherman style, but desginged and made in Ireland with colors inspired by nature -- heather, flowers, a variety of greens. The cardigans have interesting metal buttons that look old.

Also bought one-off silver jewelry in a Southwest Cork crafts shop.

Bought tin whistles for my grandkids.

I try to bring back Chrsitmas ornaments for all the family from our yearly Christmas trip for gifts the following Christmas. This year we stayed home at Christmas but are going to Ireland at the end of March. We will be in Dublin, Enis, Tralee, Killarney and Kilkenny for all of a day each.= Any specific suggestions as to the best place to find small ornaments to bring home with us - for next year.
Or conversely - where not to shop. Thanks for any help.

I purchased ornaments of Connemara marble in the gift shop at Bunratty Folk Park.

btw, in case any of you are wondering, bodhrán (see my post above, Feb 17) is pronounced bower-on (like flower-on) & it's a circular drum usually made with a goatskin stretched over a wooden frame. It may not be really old-fashioned but it is used a lot now in traditional Irish music. I wasn't sure if I could bring one separately when flying to USA a couple of years ago, so I phoned Aer Lingus to ask. "What's a bodhrán?" asked the confused girl. She was from eastern Europe. She then put me on to an Irish staff member who explained that her colleague had never heard of a bodhrán!

Thanks for the clarification - I too wasn't sure but it's a great idea and I have the perfect person in mind for it - as a christmas gift Thanks

Thanks again for all of the great ideas! I'll have to budget in the money for the extra bag that I'll have to check with all of these wonderful souvenirs inside. :)

Newbie

My grandfather brought us back a gorgeous blue/green mohair throw from his trip in 1961. It was getting just a little worn when I went to Ireland in 2004 so I bought two more. The colors are so beautiful, and they are so light and warm, I think of the soft green Irish hills and valleys everytime I curl up in one.

We each packed an extra bag to bring home our treasures - and also had a few things shipped.

Bailey's Irish Creme
Irish Whiskey
Irish linen
local pottery
Christmas Ornaments
LOTs of pictures and post cards
Music CDs
Sweaters
Earrings
Book of Kells prints - I actually called and ordered these after my trip. I found them in a small gift shop and loved them. I thought I would wait and see if I found something else I liked better. I didn't, so I called the gift shop and had them ship the set of 3 prints. They are beautiful and something I was not able to find elsewhere.


Have a lovely trip!

I bought a Waterford Crystal Irish Harp, about 15cm high. It makes me smile whenever I look at it.

Woolen Scarf ...made in Ireland - you can't get here -

Rings made of silver and irish designs (one of all the celtic signs - got in Adare)

Photographs I took -- best souvenior

Bookmarks that each time I read I think of Ireland

Tina Mulronney CD's -- only at her website and at Cliff's of Mohrer -- absolutely wonderful voice -- so so so good - we listen to them ALL the time - and think of our past trips and the trip in Sept!

Jewerly - made there -- something when you wear you think of your trip!

J