Buy Irish this Christmas!
70% of Irish online spending is going overseas. This needs to stop! This year our local Irish businesses, artists and entrepreneurs need all the support they can get. Buy local! Buy Irish!
I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite Irish products that I have bought over the past few years. I’m no blogger or influencer and I’m certainly not doing this looking for gifts or endorsements from these businesses. (although if my husband/family are reading this…here’s a list of things I would like for Christmas!) I too am an Irish artist and know the great value of those that continuously support my business and how lucky I feel every time my email pings with a sale during this lockdown. I make it my priority, not just at Christmas but all year round, to support Irish businesses; be it the vegetables grown by the local farmers to the toys I buy for my son. I can’t say it enough…BUY IRISH!
Wendy Louise Designs
Based in Longford town, Wendy makes the most beautiful hats for casual or formal wear. I have about 7 of them now and they have turned into my annual Christmas gift to myself. They are luxurious and timeless and Wendy will make them to any style, colour or image you request.
www.wendylouisedesigns.ie
Lisa Dora Jewellery
Lisa’s range of earrings, necklaces and bracelets are a fusion of the colours and textures inspired by nature around her Kerry home, with the vision of creating striking feminine jewellery. She uses beautiful semi-precious stones with gold vermeil and 14ct gold-filled findings. I have several of her timeless pieces and she has made me many personalised necklaces for friends too.
www.lisadorajewels.com
Bernie Murphy Irish Designer
If you love Donegal tweed as much as I do then you need to get yourself some of Bernie Murphy’s amazing pieces. I’ve been living in her headbands this year and just bought this personally tailored coat too. She has just launched tweed Winter headbands and bows that would make the perfect gift for adults or little girls who love to be at the peak of feminine style.
www.berniemurphy.com
Elouise Flannery
Based in Dingle, Elouise’s work is “inspired by nature with a magical twist”. They send me into frequent bouts of day dreaming to a world I greatly enjoy escaping to. Full of warmth, life, colour and nostalgia, where all the simple things in her world are embraced. Her paintings fill my home with all of these things.
www.elouiseflannery.com
Kinvara Skincare
This is the bizz! I use all their products. All natural, plant based goodness made in Kinvara. I have super sensitive skin and this is my saviour, particularly in the really cold weather when the frost would almost burn my skin. I seldom wear make up now because these products protect and calm my skin so well that I don’t need to cover it up. I buy their products for my mam and aunts every Christmas and they love them too!
www.kinvaraskincare.com
Irish Seed Savers
This is one of my favourite gifts to receive. Something so simple yet brings so much life with it from Spring right through to Autumn. A little packet of Irish wildflower seeds brings colour, bees, butterflies and so much more while vegetable seeds provide me with such a huge harvest of organic goodness that I end up feeding myself and all my neighbours on my road. And the best part is… it’s all so easy, just let nature do its thing. Based in Scarriff Co. Clare, Irish Seed Savers provide varieties of vegetables, soft fruit, flowers, grains, potatoes and apple trees.
www.irishseedsavers.ie
Little Ones Toy Shop
This shop is dreamy. I’ve only ever been in it once and since then I’ve bought loads from it online. Beautiful wooden toys and quirky gifts for children (and adults who still think they’re a child). They’re based in Ennis, Co. Clare. I bought most of my little boys toys here when he was born and for Christmas 2019 and they are still his favourite toys today that he insists on packing when we have to travel. They’re also super durable, as good as the day I bought them and they’re environmentally friendly. Little Ones service is excellent and they regularly do walking tours of the shop on their instagram page.
www.littleones.ie
The Shed Distillery – Gunpowder Gin & Drumshanbo Whiskey
I don’t drink….but yes, here is a teetotaller recommending gin and whiskey! It is made here in Drumshanbo, sold world wide and Pat Rigney has just opened his visitors centre at the Shed Distillery during the pandemic employing all local people. There’s no stopping him! The bottles alone draw me to the product like a moth to a night light. I have bought both the gin and whiskey for several of my friends and when I arrive with it on their door step I am greeted like I have brought the Sam McGuire.
www.thesheddistillery.com
Patches Memory Bears
Based in Leitrim, Vicky makes memory bears, quilts and cushions. She made me a beautiful bear using my Granny’s favourite pink jumper and it is so precious. Emptying a loved ones wardrobe is one of the hardest things I’ve done in life with my family. Having a part of them still present in our everyday lives is consoling, especially seeing this bear being cuddled by my little boy and making him laugh. Vicky also makes amazing quilts and cushions using garments and pieces of clothing that are memorable or special to your family like your babies sleep suits, grandad’s shirts or mammy’s coat. Her products are to be cherished!
www.patches.ie
Connacht Carver
Loads of people out walking this summer stopped at my house to ask me where I got my wooden hare that stands proudly in my front garden amongst the flowers. You’ll see it in the picture below. My talented neighbour Spencer made it. He just opened a Christmas shop from his workshop and it has brought a spark of magic to our road. He also does commissions and has made a few pieces for me on request that I have gifted to friends this year.
https://www.facebook.com/connachtcarver/
Bandcamp Fridays – 4th December
On the first Friday of December, Bandcamp will waive their commission meaning 100% of the revenue generated from music sales will go to the artist. A lot of my friends are Irish musicians and I love supporting their work by buying their music for my family and friends. This year I have bought numerous CDs for the older generation in my community who really enjoy traditional Irish music and song. The majority of them would have been attending gigs and sessions if things were normal and I know they’re really missing the music. It has been a disastrous year for musicians and performers. Buying their music is the greatest support we can give them. Here are some of my favourites: John & James Carty, Daoirí Farrell, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Ye Vagabonds, Anna Mieke, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, The Bonny Men, Steve Cooney, Lemoncello, Cormac Begley, Fidil, The Lost Brothers…
www.bandcamp.com
Futa Fata
Futa Fata publish wonderful children’s books in our Irish language. Based in Galway, they publish for every age group with a particular focus on producing memorable books for young readers. My favourite books from their long list are those music and verse with accompanying CD. They were a huge hit with the children I taught in primary school and continue to be a hit with my boy today. Futa Fata also translate and publish Gaeilge versions of books such as The Gruffalo, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and David Walliams’ Gangster Granny.
www.futafata.ie
Voya
Just saying “VOYA” makes me instantly relax! This is the first place I go to treat myself when I’ve completed a few tough projects or deadlines. I usually go in the door with my shoulders around my ears and come out floating on air feeling like a mermaid on the Strandhill promenade. My husband, the most unlikely person you’d ever to meet in a spa, also loves coming here. Not only do Voya do thee best seaweed baths and treatments experience in the whole of Ireland, they also sell skincare products that are one of my favourite presents to receive. I use their lime and mandarin body oil every day for myself and the lavender body oil on my boy since he was born. Words don’t do Voya justice. You just have to experience it to understand.
www.voyaseaweedbaths.com
Food
You don’t need me to list all my favourite Irish food suppliers here. Just look around you. There are hard working farmers in every corner of Ireland, out in all weather and at all hours trying to make a living. They are producing the very best of food! We are so lucky to have them yet they put up a constant battle to be able to compete against the multinational companies and their 50c for a bag of carrots. These farmers will tell you that there is very little money in what they do but they do it for the love of it. Remember them this Christmas and in 2021 when you are doing your food shopping. They are selling to local shops and at the farmers markets in your area. Go buy their veg, meat, fruit, cheese, herbs, jams, bread, eggs, fish and whatever else they provide organically and sustainably. Your body will thank you!
I’m sure you all have your own list of favourite Irish companies. Maybe you could share them too and make everyone aware of all the amazing Irish produce we have right here on our door step.
Edwina x