For those seeking non-touristy Irish gifts there is much to choose from.  There are two groups of people looking for Irish gifts, those that occasionally buy the joke type gifts like the large mugs, crazy hats and t-shirts, and those who are more serious and are looking for unique or quality Irish gifts.  There are numerous Irish products for sale online covering both categories, and some very fine hand-crafted items such as glassware, linens and pottery.

Pottery and ceramics are some of the better known good quality Irish crafts.  They are not holiday specific, so you can buy these as gifts any time of the year.  The two most well known are Royal Tara and Belleek.  Continuing to become more popular and moving up are Nicholas Mosse, Judy Greene, Brandon and Louis Mulcahy.

http://www.belleek.ie/Index.aspx

http://www.royal-tara.com/

http://www.nicholasmosse.com/store/

http://www.judygreenepottery.com/home.asp

Of course Ireland is well known for producing crystal pieces too.  Crystal is one of the more popularly bought Irish gifts when looking for something more expensive and exquisite.  The craftsmanship is good on most of the items and you can get anything from wine glasses to decanters to full chandeliers.  The better known producers are Waterford, Tyrone, Galway and Cavan.

http://www.cavancrystaldesign.com/

http://www.tyronecrystal.com/

http://www.galwaycrystal.ie/

http://www.waterford.com/index.asp

Irish tableware is increasing becoming recognized as a good Irish gift.  Two producers of china are Belleek and Donegal Parian.  They make a variety of tableware that seems to sell fast at gift shops that carry them, or online.  Modern glassware designer John Rocha is also popular.  Porcelain figurines made by Irish Dresden make excellent gifts for the sophisticated collector of figurines.

Let’s not forget Irish tweed as a good gift.  There are several clothing products, especially for men, of high quality.  Irish tweed has never been more popular and it is stylish and warm.  Magees of Donegal is one of the better recognized manufacturers.  At times, even some women’s clothing uses Tweed, but that is not as well known.  Scarves, hats, overcoats and throws have all been made from tweed and can be a good Irish gift.

http://www.mageedonegal.com/index.html

On occasion you may want a more gimmicky Irish gift.  There is nothing wrong with having some fun in life.  You can get grow your own clover gifts, Irish road signs, crazy hats, t-shirts with semi-crude sayings, printed tea towels or bar towels and leprechaun items.  Let’s not forget the huge range of Guinness products like shirts, coats, hats, glasses, bar item and golf club heads.  As well I am starting to see more and more of the Irish football league shirts being exported.  These are heavy, cool shirts with official looking logos of some of the best Irish teams.  They may even be exact replicas.

Whatever your tastes or what you are hoping to find, it is good to just enjoy the search for Irish gifts.  That is part of the fun of it.  While browsing any Irish gift shop, or online, looking for good Irish gifts, expect to spend some time doing so as the number of products increases every year and it is not easy to make a decision.  Happy hunting.

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