What to Buy
The two most famous products of
Ireland are linen and crystal, notably
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friends back home with less known but
equally typical and stunning gifts.
Linen
Linen was to Northern Ireland what
cotton was to Western India; along with
shipbuilding, it was the major industry,
particularly in the 18th and 19th centu-
ries. Unfortunately, it has been reduced
to a fraction of its past glory, though the
Living Linen Project has done much to
preserve the experiences of those who
made their living from it. Ferguson Irish
Linen, www.fergusonsirishlinen.com,
founded in 1854, is even today consid-
ered among the world’s best crafters of
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of bed or table linen.
Waterford and other
Crystal
Stunning crystal and exquisite glass
work has been produced in the Water-
ford area since 1783, and while you can
buy it nearly anywhere in Ireland,
there’s an added thrill in visiting the
factory or the Visitors Centre . The city
itself is worth a tour, and hosts an
annual fair. There is fine, and consider-
ably less expensive, crystal from Tyrone.
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China and Ceramics
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creamy, lustrous china with subtle
motifs, including shamrocks and flowers.
In Galway, Royal Tara China is Ireland’s
leading fine bone-china manufacturer,
with Celtic-influenced designs; Donegal
is another centre. Kylemore Abbey
specializes in exquisite handpainted
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Enniscorthy in Wexford is another
centre for ceramics. You may not be able
to lug back a whole dinner set, but
individual decorative/utility pieces are
worth the careful packing.
Woollens
An Irish shawl or sweater is a long-term
investment. The great grazing lands of
the Emerald Isle, and all that mist and
rain have led to some of the warmest
and most beautifully knitted woollies in
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Killarney, have been in business for over
300 years. If you are going to ‘kiss the
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in the same county, you should add a
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or without the blessing of that legend-
ary stone, you won’t stop talking about
it. The Aran islands are the furthermost
outposts of the Republic, home to a
distinctive, thick, off-white knitwear
which used to be passed down from
generation to generation of the local
fishermen, with each family having its
own pattern.
Crafts
Local, rural artisans flourish. The Crafts
Council of Ireland, helps with design and
market development. Workshops will
fascinate the kids too; get a list from
local tourist offices. Crafts shops, such as
the Kilkenny Design Centre display and
sell a variety. In Cork and Kerry
counties, there is an abundance of work-
shops, mainly in Kinsale and Dingle.
