Every traveler who comes to Ireland wants to bring home many of the items that are sold in small shops, by street vendors, and in the windows of large shopping centers. However, it is important to be patient and choose items that reflect the unique culture of Ireland. Let’s explore some of the best gifts and items to bring back from Ireland for your friends and yourself.
Irish delicacies
Why not bring some local products home from Ireland?
It’s probably worth starting with cheese, which will delight any gourmet. Ireland has a variety of cheeses, including smoked and unpasteurized cheeses with a milky and nutty flavor, as well as cheeses with and without a rind, and cheeses that are very soft and hard. It is believed that the best cheeses in Ireland are produced on the Beara Peninsula, in the cities of Cork, Wexford, and Tipperary.
Perhaps the most original meat product in Ireland is the thick, delicious sausages, which come in a variety of flavors: plum, basil, smoked garlic, honey and mustard, and apple. These sausages are only available at Tesco Finest. SuperValu also offers Superquinn Sausages, which are just as delicious.
There are two types of very good tea in Ireland: Barry and Lyons. The Irish cannot say for sure which of these drinks is better, so tourists are advised to try both. Other types of tea should not be considered at all.
For people who love sweets, Baileys or Guinness candies are a good choice – these are small chocolates with different fillings. Such sweet souvenirs are sold in packs of 100 g for 3-4 €.
Alcoholic beverages
“What can I bring from Ireland as a gift for a man, and what kind of alcoholic beverage should I choose?” The answer is simple. Of course, whiskey is the perfect choice, as it is a true manly drink. The Irish, known for their lively and fun-loving nature, have achieved great success in producing whiskey.
However, their honey wine is excellent. However, the wine is more suitable as a souvenir for women and those who do not like strong alcoholic beverages.
You should stock up on honey wine in advance, and it’s better to get whiskey from duty free, as it will be cheaper.
Famous Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey is recognized as the oldest alcoholic beverage in Europe. Originally, it was used to treat various infectious diseases, but now, according to experts, it heals the soul. This is because the ancient Celtic word “whisky” translates to “water of life.”
Ireland produces four types of whiskey (each with an aging period of 8 to 15 years):
- Single-malt beer is made using 100% barley malt.
- Single-grain, made from barley.
- “Pure Whiskey” is made by adding green, unsprouted barley grains to give it its unique flavor.
- A blended wine is obtained by mixing the three above-mentioned types.
The most famous and popular brands of whiskey are:
- Bushmills Blended Irish is a smooth drink with distinctive notes of pear, apple, and vanilla.
- Connemara Peated Single Malt has a pleasant peaty flavor and a sweet aroma.
- Powers Gold Label Irish has a slight woody, vanilla, and spicy flavor.
- Kilbeggan Blended Irish is suitable for beginners, as it has a slightly burning and slightly sweet taste.
- Michael Collins Single Malt 10 Year is also good for beginners and has a raisin flavor.
- Teeling Small Batch Irish has a taste of honey, caramel, and malt, followed by notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, cloves, and cinnamon.
- Yellow Spot Single Pot Still Irish has a subtle oak, black pepper, and allspice flavor, but it starts out with a honey, cream, and peach flavor.
- Tullamore Dew Blended Irish is characterized by a combination of fragrant green apple and caramel, with a hint of black pepper and spices and a subtle hint of chocolate.
Honey wine
For a very long time, honey wine remained at the peak of popularity in Ireland, but now it is no longer in high demand. However, this wine has a unique and exquisite aroma, as well as a pleasant and intriguing taste.
In Ireland, honey wine is sold under the brand name Bunratty Mead, and there are semi-sweet, sweet, and dry wines.
Crystal products
The next pride of the Irish is crystal. Crystal products of the Waterford, Tyrone, Galway and Tipperary trademarks are highly valued by collectors from all over the world.
Meanwhile, the Irish are convinced that the highest quality crystal is produced in the city of Waterford. There are several factories where crystal is still made by hand, using ancient technologies, and products with even minor defects are immediately broken. High-end crystal can be distinguished by a watermark depicting the brand name.
Let the crystal souvenir from Ireland is quite small, but you can be sure of its authenticity.
Dress like an Irish
In Ireland, things made of woolen tweed fabric are popular, and Aran knitting is known all over the world. As a gift for friends or relatives, such products are rarely used because of their high cost, but you can choose something original for yourself.
Sweaters from the Aran Islands
The Aran sweater, made in the traditional technique, will not only remind you of your time spent in Ireland, but will also be a profitable investment. Thanks to the special knitting technique and the high quality of the wool used, such things get a number of advantages:
- they’re waterproof;
- in cold weather, they do not allow you to freeze, preserving the heat of the human body;
- In warm weather, they help maintain body temperature and prevent overheating.
Celtic ornaments are a kind of amulets that protect the owner of the clothes. Zigzags, grids, and braids can all be “read” by knowing the symbolism.
Aran sweaters are not cheap, which is why few people buy them as souvenirs. In Ireland, children’s sweaters for children aged 7-9 can be found for as little as 150 €, while adult sweaters can cost up to 350 €. For high-quality and beautiful models, you can visit Aran Sweater Market, The Donegal Shop, and Sweater Shop. These stores also offer a variety of accessories, such as knitted mittens, socks, scarves, and more.
If your finances are limited, you can go to TK Maxx. Of course, it will take a lot of time to search there, but if you’re lucky, you can find an Aran sweater at a much more affordable price: discounts can be up to 70%.
You can also view catalogs on the websites of Sale or Outlet stores and order your favorite model with delivery to your hotel at any convenient time, which can save you up to 30% on your expenses.
Irish Tweed from Donegal
Tweed products are something you can bring back from Ireland, both for yourself and as a good gift. However, since there are many fake products on the market, it is recommended to purchase such items from family-owned factories in Donegal. Visitors are allowed to enter the factories, where they can see the antique weaving machines and learn about the production process.
In Ireland, they make tweed coats, jackets, hats, and scarves. In cold, wet weather, there’s no better substitute for tweed clothing, making it a useful gift option.
Irish lace
A souvenir like Irish lace is perfect for a woman’s gift. Antique stores offer exquisite vintage lace, but it comes at a high price. In recent years, Ireland has seen a revival of traditional crafts, and trendy boutiques often feature modern lace creations inspired by ancient techniques. These items are both unique and stylish.
Traditional Irish souvenirs
A great gift from Ireland would be any souvenir with a picture of a clover leaf – you can buy it literally “on every corner”. The Irish claim that a clover leaf can attract happiness and good luck, so most tourists try to bring souvenirs with such symbols as a memento.
The most famous characters in Irish folklore are leprechauns. Almost every store sells a wide variety of leprechaun figurines made from different materials. You can also buy cookies and other treats shaped like leprechauns. There are many items related to leprechauns, such as embroidery, dishes shaped like leprechaun shoes, stuffed animals, and chests filled with gold-wrapped chocolates.
The Irish are very fond of music, so in many souvenir shops you can find cassettes and discs with a recording in the style of folk. In addition, a good (and expensive) gift for music lovers can be one of the national instruments: flutes whistle, bagpipes, boirana.
In Ireland, both men and women can find Celtic-style jewelry as a gift. Stores offer a variety of earrings, bracelets, pendants, and rings, catering to different price ranges. If you’re looking for more expensive jewelry, you can visit Argos, where you can find the famous Claddagh rings at much more affordable prices compared to other jewelry stores.
A wide range of souvenirs is available at the Dealz chain of gift shops. Therefore, knowing that you need to bring gifts from Ireland to many people, it is better to go there right away.
