Must-see shopping in Ireland

  • Scéal Eile Books

    County Clare

    A delight to explore, this emerald-green-painted bookshop overflows with new and secondhand literature, including rare titles across all genres from…

  • Donegal Craft Village

    County Donegal

    You won't find any canned leprechauns or Guinness T-shirts here. Instead this huddle of craft studios showcases pottery, ironwork, handwoven fabrics,…

  • Charlie Byrne's Bookshop

    Galway City

    A civic treasure, the rambling rooms at Charlie Byrne's are crammed with over 100,000 new, secondhand, thirdhand, discounted and out-of-print books,…

  • Kilkenny Design Centre

    Kilkenny City

    Top-end Irish crafts and artworks from artisans county-wide are sold at this design centre. Look for John Hanly wool blankets, Cushendale woollen goods,…

  • A close-up of Claddagh Records sign, Temple Bar

    Claddagh Records

    Temple Bar

    An excellent collection of good-quality traditional and folk music is the mainstay at this centrally located record shop. The profoundly knowledgable…

  • Gutter Bookshop

    Gutter Bookshop

    Temple Bar

    Taking its name from Oscar Wilde's famous line from Lady Windermere's Fan – 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars' – this…

  • Cniotáil Inis Meáin

    Aran Islands

    One of the island's main employers was founded more than 40 years ago and today exports fine woollen garments – including iconic Aran sweaters – to some…

  • Irish Hand Weaves

    County Clare

    You’ll likely find weaver Jean Moran behind her loom in this studio-workshop, surrounded by her creations. Browse local craftspeople's work, or learn the…

  • The quayside sign for Village Hall

    Village Hall

    Cork City

    This Aladdin’s cave is stuffed to the brim with unusual vintage clothing, vinyl records, eclectic furniture and assorted oddities. Despite being full of…

  • Truffle Fairy

    Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny

    Ethically sourced single-origin cacao and local, organic ingredients are used to make truffles (varieties include strawberry and whiskey, cinnamon mulled…

  • Sheridans Cheesemongers

    County Meath

    Renowned cheesemongers Sheridans, with shops in Dublin and Galway, has its warehouses and HQ here in County Meath. A former train station now houses a…

  • Louis Mulcahy Pottery

    Dingle Peninsula

    One of Ireland's most acclaimed potters, Louis Mulcahy produces a wide range of contemporary and traditional designs. To learn how to create them yourself…

  • Truffle Fairy

    Kilkenny City

    Truffles (such as cider or almond and mint), caramels (eg pecan) and other chocolates sustainably made in nearby Thomastown, where it has a second shop,…

  • Hazel Mountain Chocolate

    Galway City

    Truffles using Burren-produced Hazel Mountain chocolate are made on-site daily at this airy, contemporary shop behind a duck-egg-blue facade. It doubles…

  • Nephin Whiskey Emporium

    County Mayo

    This start-up distillery is creating peated single malt Nephin whiskey employing local barley and locally cut turf; it's triple distilled in traditional…

  • On the Pig's Back

    Cork City

    This famous deli stall in the English Market groans beneath serried ranks of French and Irish cheeses, charcuterie, homemade pâtés and pastries.

  • PLUGD Records

    Cork City

    Stocks all kinds of music on vinyl and CD and is the place to keep up with Cork's ever-changing music scene.

  • Vibes & Scribes

    Cork City

    Stocks a vast selection of new, secondhand and remaindered books, including lots of Irish interest titles.

  • Vintage joy at Lucy's Lounge

    Lucy's Lounge

    Temple Bar

    Go through the upstairs boutique and you’ll find a staircase to an Aladdin’s basement of vintage goodies. You can easily while away an hour or two here…

  • Pinocchio's wooden mascot., Pinocchio's Toys & Gifts

    Pinocchio's Toys & Gifts

    Cork City

    Forget your plastic playthings, explore this little gem full of ethically sourced and good quality toys. Most are traditional creations made of wood and…

  • The colourful entrance to Jam Art Factory, Temple Bar

    Jam Art Factory

    Temple Bar

    This quirky little shop is a good bet for souvenirs. ICrammed full of Irish art and design, you can expect everything. Look for nostalgic gifts from Irish…

  • Fair Alternative Market is in the Unitarian Church every week.

    The Fair Alternative

    Cork City

    Shop for some local crafts in this charming market every Saturday, held in the local Unitarian church. Expect handmade jewellery, cosmetics, knitwear, art…

  • Cow's Lane Designer Mart

    Temple Bar

    A real market for hipsters, on the steps of Cow's Lane, this market brings together over 60 of the best clothing, accessory and craft stalls in town. It's…

  • Bear Essentials

    Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan

    Teddy bear fans will adore this rural studio-showroom, which handcrafts its own bears on-site. It also runs 2½-hour teddy bear–making workshop (€200 for…

  • Kilmurvey Craft Village

    Aran Islands

    You'll see local knitters handcrafting traditional Aran sweaters at this charming collection of traditional thatched cottages. Woollens, Irish linen,…

  • Skellig Gift Store

    Ring of Kerry

    Irish-made gifts from pottery to textiles, jewellery and Guinness sauce for cooking are stocked at this welcoming, well-priced gift store. It also has…

  • Durrus Farmhouse

    County Cork

    West Cork has earned an international reputation for its marvellous cheese, thanks to the likes of Durrus Farmhouse, whose produce is sold all over…

  • Nicholas Mosse Irish Country Shop

    Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny

    Across the river from the village in an old mill, this pottery shop specialises in handmade spongeware – ceramics decorated with sponged patterns –…

  • Dublin Food Co-op

    Dublin

    From dog food to detergent, everything in this member-owned co-op is organic and/or ecofriendly. Thursday has a limited selection of local and imported…

  • Rudolf Heltzel Goldsmith

    Kilkenny City

    Originally from Germany, Rudolf Heltzel has been creating fine-art jewellery in Kilkenny since 1968, and now works with his son Christopher creating…

  • Kiernan Moloney Musical Instruments

    Galway City

    Stringed instruments including fiddles and harps are the speciality of this dealer in fine instruments, which handles sales, rentals and repairs. It also…

  • Valley of Roses

    Kilkenny City

    This pristine Parisian-style perfume boutique has an array of ready-to-go scents for men and women, made from ingredients such as cascarilla bark, ylang…

  • Russell Gallery

    The Burren

    Top-notch art and glass works by Irish artists are for sale at this airy gallery alongside photographs and books on the region. It doubles as a cafe and…

  • Judy Greene's

    Galway City

    Hand-thrown pottery by Galway artist Judy Greene incorporates designs inspired by Ireland's flora and landscapes. Also displayed in her boutique are…

  • Design Tower

    Dublin

    Housed in a 19th-century sugar refinery that was Dublin's first iron-structured building, this seven-storey design centre houses studios for around 20…

  • Thomas Dillon's Claddagh Gold

    Galway City

    Established in 1750, this is Ireland’s oldest jewellery shop, with vintage examples of Claddagh rings, featuring two hands holding a heart topped by a…

  • Ring Fort Gallery

    County Wicklow

    Watch jeweller Kieran Cunningham handcrafts bracelets, brooches, earrings, necklaces, rings, tiaras, torcs (solid necklaces) and pins here at his gallery…

  • Bantry Market

    County Cork

    Wolfe Tone Sq takes on a heady mix of aromas for the weekly farmers market. Fresh fruit, organic veg, bread, cheese, charcuterie and other local produce…

  • Milk Market

    Limerick City

    Pick from organic produce and artisan foods including local fruits and vegetables, preserves, baked goods and farmhouse cheeses, browse the flower and…

  • Kilbaha Gallery & Crafts

    County Clare

    Paintings, sculptures, photography, crafts, books and postcards at this delightful shop are all made by local artists. Up the back, its little light…

More destinations you need to see