Page 335 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

SHOPPING IN IRELAND  333

Crystal and Glassware
In the wake of Waterford Crystal
(see p151), the brand leader,
come countless fol lowers. The
price depends on reputation,
the quantity of lead used in
the glass and the labour-
intensiveness of the design.
Tipperary Crystal offers a range
of lines, and Galway Irish
Crystal is another elegant brand.
In Kilkenny, the famous
Jerpoint Abbey inspires local
Colourful bric-a-brac shop in Kilkenny designs by Jerpoint Glass.
Decorated with simple yet
several specialist record shops production process. Craft shops, stylish motifs, the small vases,
that sell traditional Irish such as the Kilkenny Design candlesticks, jugs and bowls
recordings. Golden Discs is a Centre and Bricín, sell good make pleasing gifts. Most stores
chain of music stores, and exam ples of different crafts. will pack and send glassware
stocks a good selection of In Cork and Kerry there is overseas for you.
traditional Irish music. an abundance of workshops, Crystal from around Ireland
mainly in Kinsale and Dingle. can be found in most craft and
The Guide to Craft Outlets design shops, but if you want to
Food and Drink
is available at local tourist see how glass is made it’s
Markets have offices. best to visit a factory.
become a popu- Distinctive
lar way to shop prod ucts from
for food in Irish this area are Ceramics and China
cities. Most of traditional tiles Although more renowned for
what’s on offer is based on designs crystal, Ireland also has many
produced locally found in Kilkenny reputable producers of ceram ics
under organic Cathedral and nearby and china. Established in 19th-
conditions. Smoked Kylemore Abbey medieval abbeys. century Ulster, Belleek Pottery
salmon, home-cured teapot Further west, green (see p273) produces creamy china
bacon, farmhouse Connemara marble is with a lustrous sheen and subtle
cheeses, soda bread, preserves made into “worry stones”, small decorative motifs, including
and handmade chocolates charms traditionally exchanged shamrocks and flowers. In
make perfect last-minute gifts. between families as marks of Galway, Royal Tara China is
Guinness travels less well and long-lasting friendship. Also Ireland’s leading fine bone
is best drunk in Ireland. Irish in Connemara, Roundstone china manufacturer, with
whiskey is hard to beat as a gift Music makes bodhrans in front Celtic-influenced designs,
or souvenir. Apart from the of interested tourists. while Kylemore Abbey (see p212)
cheaper Power’s and Paddy Other crafts include metal- specializes in exquisite hand-
brands, the big names are work, leatherwork and carpentry. painted pottery. Louis Mulcahy’s
Bushmills (see p270) and Local woods are used for ash or Pottery, in Bally ferriter, is noted
Jameson (see p183) . Rich Irish beech furni ture, blackthorn for fine decorative glazes,
liqueurs include Irish Mist and walking sticks and sculptures while in Bennettsbridge,
Baileys Irish Cream. made of 1,000-year-old Nicholas Mosse Pottery
bogwood – petrified wood produces hand-painted designs.
salvaged from Ireland’s unique Enniscorthy in Wexford is
Crafts boglands during turf cutting. another centre for ceramics.
Crafts are a flourishing way of
life in rural Ireland, and the
distinctive products can be
purchased from either city
department stores or work-
shops and individual vendors.
The Crafts Council of Ireland
has branches in Dublin and
Kilkenny, and can recommend
good small-scale outlets in the
country. Tourist offices also
provide lists of local workshops,
where you can watch the Pottery display in Kilkenny Design Centre

332-333_EW_Ireland.indd 333 08/03/17 11:08 am