Shopping in Dublin is as much a delight as doing anything else in the city, and whether you want to buy Waterford Crystal, a painting, or an Irish harp, there are fine arts and crafts to be found everywhere. Most of the major Irish makers have outlets in Dublin, and many of these can be found in the city centre. You can enjoy your Dublin shopping while you stroll from one attraction to the next, or on your way to or from one of Dublin’s wonderful pubs.
Right alongside King’s College in Dublin, where you’ll find the Book of Kells, is Nassau Street. Here you’ll find several of the best arts and crafts shopping outlets, and if time is tight then this is the first street you should head for. Other must-see Dublin shopping stops are at the Tower Craft Design Centre, the Powerscourt Townhouse Center, and any of several fine art galleries selling work by the best contemporary Irish artists.
Some of the best arts and crafts shopping in Dublin can be found at:
Suffolk Street, near Trinity College
Beautifully-woven rugs, blankets, and throws are just a tiny part of what Avocva now makes and sells - and there’s also a great deli in the basement serving freshly-made food too.
Nassau Street, near Trinity College
There are several Kilkenny stores around Ireland but the one in Dublin is the flagship shop. It’s the largest shop of its type in the country, selling contemporary Irish-designed goods, which make great souvenirs for yourself or gifts for friends. Here you’ll find not only Waterford Crystal but also Galway Crystal and Tipperary Crystal. The store also stocks Belleek pottery, Irish fragrances, clothing - in fact everything from exquisite jewelry to fun Guinness souvenirs.
Nassau Street, near Trinity College
The Blarney Woollen Mills is another essential Dublin shopping stop, featuring as it does some of the finest names in Irish arts and craft gifts - Waterford, Heritage and Galway Crystal, Belleek pottery and ceramics, Celtic jewelry, and men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, amongst other things.
Nassau Street, near Trinity College
Another major stockist of Belleek china, Waterford Crystal, Galway and Tipperary Crystal, tweeds, knitwear. Irish linens, Newbridge china, and a particularly fine range of both Celtic and contemporary jewelry.
Tower Craft Design Centre
Pearse Street, off Grand Canal
This lovely place east of city centre in a restored 19th-century sugar refinery has numerous workshops where you can see the artists and craftsmen at work - as well as by their creations, of course. You will find Celtic and other jewelry, knitwear, hand-made cards and stationery, pottery, and more, though some of the resident artists do change from time to time.
Between William Street South and Clarendon Street
This shopping centre is good for antiques and there are many regular shops, but also a good number of quality arts and crafts shops too. These include jewelers and other crafts, and there are also art galleries, often with an artist in residence.
South Great Georges Street
If you want to buy the latest in guitars you can do, but this music store also stocks traditional Irish musical instruments. There are some beautiful items to buy, including harps, flutes, fiddles, bodhrans, and other common Irish instruments - including of course a penny whistle.
So if you want to go shopping in Ireland, go shopping in Dublin - and the whole of the country comes to you.
Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
