Page 334 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

332  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPPING IN IRELAND

Ireland offers a wide range of handmade Celtic brooches, bone china, knitwear and
goods, usually regionally based and highly designer fashion, carved bogwood and books
individual. Its most renowned products of Irish poetry. Kitsch souvenirs also abound,
include chunky Aran sweaters, Waterford from leprechauns and shamrock emblems
crystal, Irish linen, hand-loomed Donegal to Guinness tankards and garish religious
tweed and tasty farmhouse cheeses. The memorabilia. In the directory on page 335,
thriving crafts industry is based on traditional a map reference is given for each address.
products with an innovative twist. Typical of Dublin shopping is covered in detail on
contemporary Irish crafts are good design, pages 108–11. Road map references are to
quality craftsmanship and a range spanning the towns and cities on the inside back cover.

Books
Reading is a national passion in
Ireland, so bookshops are
generally very good. In bigger
shops expect solid sections on
Irish archaeology and archite c-
ture, folklore, history, politics
and cuisine. Eason and Son is
one of the country’s most
widespread bookstore chains
with a large collection of Irish
literature and news papers. Seek
out the smaller, “Irish Interest”
shops too. In Galway, Kennys,
Fruit and vegetable market in Moore Street, Dublin hidden away in an in dustrial
area, is packed with both new
Where to Shop at Easter and Christmas and on and second-hand books.
The choice of places to shop St Patrick’s Day but are open
in Ireland ranges from tiny on most other public holidays.
workshops to large factory In Killarney, Ireland’s tourist Music
outlets, and from elegant capital, most shops are open Traditional musical instruments
boutiques to high-street chain until 10pm in summer. (see pp28–9) are made in many
stores. Bargains can often be regions, especially County Clare,
had at bric-a-brac shops and How to Pay also known as the “singing
local markets, although the county”. Hand made harps are a
banter is sometimes the best Major credit and debit cards speciality in Mayo and Dublin.
thing on offer. This guide are generally accepted in Instruments such as handcrafted
includes market days and local department stores and larger bodhráns, uilleann pipes, tin
fairs within the information retail outlets, but smaller whistles and fiddles are on sale
given for every town featured in shops prefer cash, especially in throughout Ireland. There are
the Region by Region sections. the more rural areas.
Sometimes the best produce or
products are to be found off the
beaten track; locals are always Sales Tax and Refunds
happy to let you know where. Most purchases are subject to
VAT (sales tax) at 23 per cent,
included in the sales price.
When to Shop
However, visitors from outside
Most shops are open from the European Union (EU) can
Monday to Saturday, 10am reclaim VAT prior to departure.
to 5:30 or 6pm. In shopping When shipping goods over seas,
centres and large towns, shops refunds can be claimed at the
tend to have at least one late- point of purchase. If taking your
night opening, usually on goods with you, look for the
Thursday or Friday (Thursday CashBack logo in shops, fill in
in Dublin). In tourist areas, craft the special vouch er, then visit
shops are generally open on CashBack offices at Dublin or A traditional fiddle maker in his workshop
Sundays too. Shops are closed Shannon Airport. in Dingle

332-333_EW_Ireland.indd 332 08/03/17 11:08 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.1)
Date 13th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm