My family lived around the world when I was growing up, so perhaps we had more Irish mementoes than the average Irish home. From shamrock tea towels to an assortment of tin whistles, there was always a reminder of the Emerald Isle.
Visitors to Ireland will now find an even wider range of souvenirs to tempt them. The only limits on your selection will be your budget and luggage space.
Here’s a guide to the best souvenirs from Ireland.
Aran Sweaters
Aran sweaters
These distinctive heavy knit sweaters originated on the Aran Islands off Ireland’s storm-lashed west coast. Traditionally, they were handmade from unprocessed wool that retains its natural lanolin, making them water-resistant and very warm.
The raised patterns in the wool, such as cables, honeycomb or diamonds, required skill to knit and made each homemade sweater unique. It was said that the bodies of fishermen lost at sea could be recognized just from their sweaters.
Most Aran sweaters are now machine-made, sometimes in factories abroad, but you can still find handmade ones at a premium price. Make sure the label says “Made in Ireland” and not something potentially misleading, such as “Designed in Ireland”.
Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream Photo by Prayitno on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Launched in 1974, Baileys was the world’s first cream liqueur. Blending Irish whiskey with Irish cream, cocoa, and vanilla, it remains the world’s best-selling liqueur.
While not to everyone’s taste, particularly whiskey purists, many drinkers love it. It’s a smooth taste over ice, or even ice cream, and lovely in cheesecake or chocolate desserts.
A bottle makes a great souvenir and keeps fresh for two years. Once opened, perhaps post-dinner, it’s a delicious way to share memories of your Irish adventures with friends.
Belleek Pottery
Belleek vase
Ireland’s oldest pottery, Belleek is a byword for delicate, intricately woven basketware patterns. Almost translucent when held up to the light, Belleek also has a distinctive pearlescent glaze.
The most collectable pieces feature green shamrocks, Celtic knots, or delicate floral designs. It’s still largely handmade, using skills passed on through generations, and remains one of the loveliest souvenirs to buy in Ireland.
Whether a small basket or a full tea set, Belleek is a beautiful but fragile showcase of Irish heritage. It is best packed and shipped by a secure carrier to make sure it arrives home safely.
Celtic Knot Jewelry
Celtic knot ring
The Celtic Knot is a symbol of eternal life or love. It’s a familiar pattern from ancient illuminated manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells in Dublin.
There are different styles of knots, such as the Trinity, representing earth, sea, and sky in Celtic tradition. The love knot shows the eternal entwining of two bodies and souls.
You’ll find Celtic knots decorating jewelry such as rings, earrings or pendants. Whether in gold, silver, or pewter, there’s a lovely example in all price ranges, making it a popular choice for souvenirs to buy in Ireland.
Claddagh Ring
Claddagh ring
A traditional Irish symbol of love, the Claddagh ring shows two hands clasping a heart topped by a crown. The heart represents love, the hands friendship, and the crown loyalty.
Legend says the ring was created by a Galway goldsmith who was sold into slavery by pirates in the 18th century. He created the design in captivity for his sweetheart at home in Claddagh.
Rings for women or men are available in everything from platinum to silver, and in simple or ornate designs. Look for them in any jewelers or Irish crafts shop.
Connemara Marble
Connemara marble
The only green marble found in Ireland comes from the wild, rugged landscape of Connemara. The shade of green varies in color from light to dark, often with veins of white calcite or deeper green serpentine.
This unique appearance makes every piece of Connemara marble genuinely unique. Polished into beautiful jewelry, it can be found as pendants, earrings, and bracelets.
As well as jewelry, this ancient stone makes lovely-to-handle chess sets, paperweights, and rosary beads. No matter how it comes, it’s a piece of Ireland dating back millions of years.
GAA Shirts
The Gaelic Athletic Association dominates Irish life in a way that’s very localized. Amateur teams represent the parish or county their players were born in, creating powerful loyalty among spectators.
The symbol of that loyalty is the GAA shirt, worn by teams playing hurling or Gaelic football. Hurling is a fast-paced stick and ball game, while Gaelic is a unique hybrid that predates rugby and soccer.
Every town and many villages will have a shop or store selling the shirt for the local team or the county. Both men and women play Gaelic sports, so you’ll find one in every size, including infants and youths.
Guinness Souvenirs
Guinness pint glasses Photo by LenDog64 on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Guinness is an Irish icon that’s famous worldwide. Its harp logo is instantly recognizable, as is the glass of the “black stuff” with its creamy top.
Classic souvenirs range from Guinness-branded pint glasses to T-shirts and hoodies with the logo. Whether it’s playing cards or tea towels, the only limit is the designer’s imagination.
The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is an obvious first stop for Guinness merchandise in all forms. However, most gift shops and airport duty-free shops also stock a good range.
Irish Art
The soft Irish light has inspired artists for generations and continues to inspire many photographers. An image of the Irish landscape, whether original or reproduction, makes a great reminder of any visit.
Famous names include artist Jack B. Yeats, brother of the poet W.B. Yeats. Paul Henry is another stand-out name, famous for his paintings of the West of Ireland.
While such names are probably only accessible as prints, there are many still affordable contemporary Irish artists. You’ll find them in galleries, perhaps their own, in many towns.
Irish Cheeses
Cashel Blue
Ireland has seen its artisanal cheese sector explode in recent decades. From mature Dubliner cheddar to creamy Cashel Blue, there’s now a much wider variety of styles.
Coolea, an Irish version of Dutch Gouda, illustrates the innovation taking place. The award-winning sheep’s cheese from Cais na Tire in Tipperary also broke barriers.
The English Market in Cork, or St. George’s Market in Belfast, are good places to find new Irish cheese—but don’t overlook supermarkets. Specialist cheesemongers will vacuum-pack cheese for travel and advise on how long it will keep.
Irish Designer Clothing
Aran sweaters, linen shirts, and tweed coats are a traditional Irish look. However, modern fashion designers are bringing new cuts, colors, and materials to the mix.
Names to look out for include Simone Rocha, daughter of Chinese-Irish designer John Rocha. Simone’s flowing, romantic designs have won her international recognition.
Inis Meáin puts an elegant modern spin on traditional Aran woollens. Magee 1866 has similarly updated Donegal tweed with lighter, brighter designs.
Irish Linen
Irish linen
Irish linen is considered among the finest in the world. It’s smooth, strong, and becomes beautifully softer with washing.
The country’s long history of linen making dates to at least the 11th century. Made from flax, it was a cottage industry until the introduction of the first spinning mills.
These mills transformed Belfast so much that it was nicknamed “Linenopolis”. By the mid-1800s, its York Street Mill was the largest in the world.
Belfast is still a good place to find beautiful Irish table linens and bed linens, tea towels, and clothing. Ferguson’s Irish Linen in Banbridge, 45 minutes from Belfast, has a factory shop for premium pieces.
Irish Tea
Tea
You can probably find someone in an Irish pub to regale you with stories of picking tea on a plantation in County Laois or Wicklow. Sadly, Ireland’s fervent love for tea has to be fed by imports from elsewhere.
The two big importers are Barry’s and Lyons, who both have their passionate followers. Loving Barry’s labels you as from Cork or the south, while Lyons dominates in Dublin and parts east.
Both have a robust, dark flavor that holds up well under hard water. Irish tea is usually made very strong, usually with milk—and, at least in my family, with two teaspoons of sugar.
Irish Tweed
Irish Tweed knitted sweater
This rugged, woven wool fabric is most famously made in County Donegal. Traditional colors reflect the natural dyes once gathered from the Irish countryside: heather purple, bog brown, granite grey, and moss greens.
Finely woven, it’s windproof and rain-resistant from the natural lanolin in the wool. Durable and warm, a good tweed coat can be passed down through the generations.
You’ll find it in everything from typical flat caps and elegant jackets to stylish handbags, scarves, and homeware. A warm blanket or a length of fabric to take home to your own tailor or designer is also a good option.
Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey
With a rich history dating back over a thousand years, Irish whiskey is typically triple-distilled. That makes it smoother than the usual twice-distilled Scotch.
Jameson is the leading name and is a blended style that lends itself well to cocktails. For straight drinking, Redbreast 12 and Midleton Very Rare are great contenders.
Jameson in Dublin, Midleton in Cork, and Bushmills in Northern Ireland are three major distilleries with tasting tours. There are also many smaller boutique distilleries around the country.
Read: Ireland Travel Tips
Waterford Crystal
Waterford crystal
Mouth-blown and hand-cut, Waterford Crystal is a byword for luxury glassware. Founded in 1783, the company has generations of skill behind its exquisite decanters, vases, lamps, and other light-catching pieces.
The most famous is the giant ball that drops in New York’s Times Square every New Year’s Eve. Waterford Crystal also makes the U.S. Football Coaches’ Trophy, and those for the winners of the Irish Open and Irish Derby.
The company overextended and fell out of fashion in modern homes. It was relaunched in 2010, using the same artisans and techniques, while adding sleeker, modern designs.
FAQs
What are the best souvenirs to buy in Ireland?
Claddagh ring
The best Irish souvenirs are Aran sweaters, Claddagh rings, Irish tweed caps or scarves, Belleek pottery, and Waterford Crystal.
What is something you can only get in Ireland?
Irish whiskey
Connemara marble jewelry is a piece of Ireland, as the marble is only quarried there. A GAA county jersey, some Belleek pottery, or a bottle of good Irish whiskey are also very distinctive.
What food products is Ireland famous for?
Irish cheddar cheese
Ireland is most famous for food products such as Kerrygold butter, artisanal farmhouse cheeses, and smoked salmon. Irish whiskey, Baileys, and Guinness are also known worldwide.
Where can I shop for authentic Irish gifts?
English Market, Cork
Ireland welcomes millions of visitors every year, so it’s easy to find good quality gift shops, especially in Dublin and Cork. In Belfast, St. George’s Market is known for local artisan crafts, jewelry, and food.
In Cork, the English Market is legendary for its cheeses, meats, and other gourmet products. Blarney Woollen Mills, just outside the city, is a popular stop for Aran sweaters, tweed, and crystal. One of the best places to visit in Ireland for gifts is Kinsale, a shopper’s paradise filled with art galleries, craft shops, and jewelers.
Kinsale
In Waterford, the House of Waterford Crystal is a must-see. Don’t forget supermarkets for food and drink, while department stores such as Dublin’s Arnotts and Brown Thomas sell linen and Irish fashion. Blarney Woollen Mills is typical of many shops that specialize in wool, tweed, and other classic souvenirs from Ireland.
Cork
Pick up the best souvenirs from designer boutiques, art galleries, markets, and distilleries on a cruise to Ireland. Browse the itineraries on our website and book an incredible vacation today.
