22 Best Places to Shop in The Southwest, Ireland

This is a cooperative venture that provides a retail outlet for 32 Kerry-based craft workers. From jewelry to soap, wood turning to rain hats, glass to knitwear, and textile art to ceramics, you will find all things handmade here.

Traditional fisherman's knitwear, designed and knitted in the Aran Islands, can be purchased here. You can acquire an heirloom-quality piece or buy knitting wool and patterns and make your own.

At this scenic spot, midway between Kenmare and Killarney, you'll find stylish wool clothing, mohair throws, and rugs in remarkable palettes and a variety of weaves, alongside a café with superb views, serving Avoca's famous baked goods and salads. There's a new food market on the ground floor.

Carraig Donn stocks a fashionable twist in Irish design with a variety of brands using fine-quality material. Women's clothing, gifts, candles, throws, and jewelry are the mainstay of this store. 

Here you'll find Irish-made knitwear in lambswool and cashmere in this town center shop.

The largest and oldest shopping mall outside of Dublin and its environs is within close walking distance of the city center, and it draws the  crowds seven days a week. Cafés, a cinema, boutiques, and gift shores make for a good rainy-day excursion---particularly with free, easy parking.   

Draiocht means "magic" in Irish, and this gallery is described by its owner as "a magical store of crafts and gifts." Many of the crafts and ceramics are Irish-made, and the colorful paintings in its large gallery come from all over Ireland.

Beautifully crafted woolen clothing for men, women, and children---from Aran sweaters, throws, caps, and scarves to Donegal tweed---are all in full supply in the cramped, well-stocked store on Patrick Street. Owned and operated by the same family for decades, expect the service to be personable and insightful; be sure to ask about the intricate backstory of each pattern.   

A good selection of books of local interest and all the best sellers can be found here.

This mill was established here in the 17th century and still uses the original buildings. Its traditional woolen products, from knitting yarns to hats and capes, make great gifts. The property is signposted off the main road between Killarney and Killorglin.

Stocking a best-in-class offering of contemporary Irish craft that includes pottery, ironwork, woodwork, art, cut glass, and jewelry.

This contemporary boutique stocks the best of high-end Irish and international fashion.

Occupying a historic site two blocks east of Arthur's Quay (ask at the tourist information office), the Milk Market is a vibrant covered weekend market selling virtually everything but milk. On Friday the emphasis is on fashion and crafts, while Saturday is the big food day, featuring many local artisanal producers, including homemade bread and cakes, farmhouse cheese, local vegetables, pork, fish, and delicious hot, cooked food and coffee to eat on-site. Sunday adds antiques and a flea-market ambience into the mix.

Adjacent to Muckross House, the craft center has a wide range of gifts and clothing, as well as a resident weaver, a bookbindery, and Muckross Pottery where Margaret Phelan works on-site producing tableware in attractive glazes including her signature honey and blue collection.

Norman has been photographing this area since 1992. He has created some breathtakingly beautiful images, many of them large-scale landscapes that can be seen and purchased here.

Spread over three floors with a vast range of novel, Irish publications (from local history to fiction), special interest and travel - this is a place for book lovers to get lost for a couple of hours. It has been owned by generations of the same family since 1902, so the love of the printed word filters down to the floor.

Local master goldsmith, Paul F. Kelly, makes and sells his striking, modern jewelry in gold and silver here.

Stop here for the town's largest selection of Irish woolen goods. Quills carries Aran knitwear, tweeds, linens, Celtic jewelry, and Irish gifts.

The wild coastal road between Ballinskelligs and Portmagee is an unusual location for a chocolate factory, café, and shop, but then this is unusual chocolate, handmade in small batches, and acclaimed by connoisseurs for its excellence. A visit to the chocolate factory is also the perfect rainy-day treat: taste the freshly made samples, buy some to take home, then sip a hot chocolate in the café while enjoying the stormy sea view of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Visit this specialist music shop for Irish music and songbooks and a collection of Irish musical instruments including tin whistles and bodhrans.

Weaver and tapestry artist Lisbeth Mulcahy's combined studio and shop sells her outstanding scarves, stoles, throws, and wall hangings in unique color combinations alongside her one-off tapestries. The shop also stocks work from other Irish creatives.

Candles, fragrances, Irish lace, bed linen, throws both new and antique, are the specialty here.