Because I know you want to shop (but not for touristy junk)…
My Ireland travel guide is coming in soon (I promise!), but I was talking to my friend the other night about what I brought back from my 10-day solo trip to Ireland in October, and knew I wanted to share what I got. I absolutely LOVED Ireland and feel like I did a good job bringing back items with actual meaning 🙂
Rathbornes Dublin Retreat Candle
Obviously a candle is always a great idea, but I did some digging before my trip and discovered that this candle brand, Rathbornes (founded in Ireland in 1488), is the world’s oldest candle company at being more than 500 years old! I obviously went with their scent “Dublin Retreat,” a woody fragrance inspired by Dublin’s Phoenix Park, containing musk at the core complemented by fresh violet leaves and spicy top notes of nutmeg and cardamon on a base of cedar wood, black ebony and amber. It’s honestly just divine and I’m obsessed.
Aran Wool Scarf
Ireland is known for their Aran wool sweaters and once I realized that they had special “clan” versions, I absolutely had to have one with Irish family name, Gibson. Honestly, I’m not a huge wool sweater/scarf kind of girl since I live in LA, but these items are really chic and actually really soft and not itchy at all. I almost bought this sweater but legitimately didn’t have any room left in my suitcase at that point, lol. I still might order one online…
Vintage Whitefriars Blue Finger Vase
Every time I go to a new country I always try to find some time to shop for a unique vintage piece, and I hit the jack pot with this Whitefriars finger vase in one of Dublin’s vintage shops. I had actually never heard of this brand before (neither has my vintage expert mom), but the saleswoman told me it’s a glass company that was founded in London and closed down in 1980. This specific vase is from the 1920s and it’s truly just the prettiest shade of blue. Love.
I found a few on eBay here, here, and here.
A Petite Claddagh Ring
Did you know that the Claddagh ring was actually first made in Galway, Ireland? I learned that on my trip after visiting the original Claddagh store, Thomas Dillions (they even have a little museum in the back). Funny enough, I already have a Claddagh ring, a 13th birthday gift from my mother…but let’s just say it’s VERY 90s and not very chic. So I decided to get a petite sterling silver version to celebrate my trip to the Emerald Isle.
Touristy Stuff
Now listen, I’m not telling you to buy some cheesy ass t-shirt that has a leprechaun on it and “kiss me I’m Irish” in big green letters. No, please don’t do that. But…if there’s something in one of those tourist shops that catches your eye or feels extra sentimental, get it. Have zero regrets. I actually have a huge collection of shot glasses, aka “my white trash shot glass collection,” from every major US city and country that I’ve visited. Are they on display? No, of course not. They’re in a bag in my closet where they belong.
