District’s Ultimate Irish Gift Guide
Words: Katie Gartland
We can’t stress enough how important it is to shop local this year. That’s why we’ve put together a lovely list of Irish gifts. Whether you’re shopping for your Ma, Da, cousin or kris kindle, we’ve got you sorted with a wide range of beautiful local presents.
Books and Novels
‘Notes From an Apocalypse: A personal journey to the end of the world and back’ by Mark O’Connell is a perfect read for the non-fiction lover in your life. It follows the author as he travels the world meeting the people who are preparing for dooms day. Grab it here from the Gutter Bookshop.
‘Exciting Times’ is a great read for your girlfriend to sink her teeth into on Christmas morning. The fictional book by Irish author Naoise Dolan can be found in Chapters on Parnell Street.
Emma Dabiri’s ‘What White People Can Do Next’ is the perfect gift for a younger sibling in college. The essay outlines what we can do to stop racial injustice, buy it from Books Upstairs here.
‘Accidentally Wes Anderson’ is a gorgeous book for your film lover friend. It displays photos of a wonderful Wes-inspired world, you can grab it at Hen’s Teeth.
The Library Project have a beautiful range of books for the little kiddo you in your life. Check out The Library Project’s website for inspirational and colourful Irish books.
Fashion
Grown Clothing are an ethically made, slow fashion brand. A Grown t-shirt is a lovely present to get your brother. For every garment sold, a native tree is planted in Ireland.
Grab your sister a lovely vintage jumper from Dublin Vintage Factory. DVF sell their clothes by the kilo. They have a massive range of vintage clothes and accessories online and in their store in Temple Bar.
With Covid restrictions, we all have that little bit of more time at home. From a homemade scarf to a pair of socks, now is the perfect opportunity to create something cute for your S.O.. Take a look at the gorgeous range of wool and knitting patterns from Vibes and Scribes in Cork.
Get the Gaeilgeoir in your life a beautiful jumper from Gaeilgheansaí. They offer lots of gorgeous jumpers and hats with Irish inscriptions and phrases.
Pearl Reddington is a knitwear and clothes designer. Her unique hats are made in Dublin from Donegal-spun Merino wool. Pearl’s signature yellow detailed hat would be perfect for your best friend.
Abú Clothing are a beautiful clothing brand based in Dublin and Cork. Abú create uplifting designs, imbued with nostalgia, optimism and craic- perfect for the pint-lover in your life.
Lifestyle
Who doesn’t love plants?! Grab a colleague or friend a gorgeous plant from Clay Plants, a present that keeps growing. Clay have a range of large and small pet-friendly plants, pots and have just started doing vouchers!
Have you been trying to get your fella to cleanse his face before bed? Or to pop a teeny bit of SPF on in the mornings? Look no further than Oxmantown Skincare. The Dublin company has clear, step-by-step ingredients so he’ll only be glowing.
30 Seconds is the best Irish board game. The perfect present for the whole family to tear each other apart on Christmas Day. 30 Seconds is a speedy, Irish-centred question game, you can grab it in Easons.
Gift your sister a gorgeous skincare set from Pestle and Mortar this Christmas. The Kildare company offer gift sets as well as skincare bundles based on routine and skin type. They use beautifully designed, simplistic packaging and prioritise sustainability.
Get the Sustainable Queen in your life a lovely hamper from Little Green Shop online. The eco-friendly store have all sorts of gift sets for sustainable shaving, travel and new mothers.
Food and Drink
A Brewbox subscription would be the perfect present for the coffee lover you know. Whether it’s your Dad, sister-in-law or cousin- we all know a person who can’t possibly function without a large cuppa Joe in front of them. Brewbox would be a lovely present for their regular supply of the good stuff.
Heading to the girlfriend’s extended family this Christmas? Go a little boujjee with a White Ralph cream liquor. The drink was established in Dublin this year, with a beautifully designed bottle to hold in all the goodness. Grab a bottle on their Instagram here.
Natty Wine are offering wonderful gift sets for the wannabe sommelier in your life. Hop over to their website to have a look at their range of gift ideas!
Hussey Farm‘s Christmas hamper is a wonderful gift to bring to the in-laws on the Big Day. Their varying hampers include cheeses, chutneys, coffee, mince pies and other delectables.
Buy the family’s cheese board this Christmas from Sheridan’s on SouthAnne Street. They’re offering a range of hampers and gift boxes including wines and crackers as well as their mouth-watering range of cheese.
Art and Design
Prints are the perfect present for everyone. This year, Smithfield’s Light House Cinema have started selling prints, their array of fun, festive and socially-distanced prints are a perfect present for a friend’s Kris Kindle.
Many independent artists are offering wonderful prints, perfect to buy for a friend or sibling. Some of District’s favourites include Emily Peat, Tag Beckett, Sinaoife Andrews, Amy McGrath, Sophie Gough and Robyn Carey.
Who doesn’t love a good notebook or planner? Get a sibling, friend or acquaintance a gorgeous journal from Badly Made Books. All notebooks are made in Ireland from recycled cardboard.
The Library Project are holding a print fair called HALFTONE ending on December 6. Have a look at their colourful range of Irish print and photography here.
Jam Art Factory have a wunderbar range of prints, notebooks, decorations and cards. Have a look at the website for their lovely array of bits and bobs created by Irish artists.
