Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

136  BRIT AIN AND IRELAND

Shopping & Entertainment Entertainment Venues
In many Irish cities, the main
Ireland offers a wide range of quality handmade goods, theaters host a wide range of
including Aran sweaters, Waterford crystal, fine Irish linen, and concerts, events, and plays. In
Donegal tweed. As with its produce, the best entertainment central Belfast, the Grand Opera
is local and highly individual. Ireland’s cities are well served House and Lyric Theatre put on
an interesting program. Dublin’s
by theaters, movie theatres, and concert venues, but there two most famous theaters, the
are many other local events, including arts festivals with Abbey and Gate Theatre, are
traditional music and dance. Not to be overlooked is the renowned for their productions
entertainment provided by a night in an Irish pub. Finally, of Irish and international plays, as
the beautiful countryside offers the chance to unwind by is the Cork Opera House.
Keep an eye out for smaller
walking, riding, fishing, or playing a round of golf.
theater groups around the
country. The Druid Theatre in
Galway puts on an original
Where to Shop to Celtic times, distinctive repertoire, and Waterford boasts
The choice of places to shop in jewelry is produced all over a resident drama company at
Ireland ranges from tiny Ireland. The Claddagh ring of the Garter Lane Arts Centre.
workshops to large factory Galway is the most famous. It is Other venues for classical
outlets, and from chic boutiques a symbol of friendship, love, and music include Dublin’s great
to high-street chain stores. loyalty, and features two hands auditorium, the National Concert
In Dublin, the Temple Bar area cradling a crowned heart. Hall, the Crawford Art Gallery in
contains a number of Aran sweaters are sold all Cork, and the Ulster Hall in Belfast.
fashionable craft stores. One of over Ireland, but particularly The Waterford Festival of
the largest shopping centers in in County Galway and on the Light Opera and the Wexford
the city is St. Stephen’s Green Aran Islands. A well-known Festival of Opera attract opera
Shopping Centre, full of clothes outlet for these and other lovers from around the world.
and craft shops. Near Grafton knitwear products is Blarney Wexford revives neglected operas
Street is the Powerscourt Woollen Mills. Donegal tweed while Waterford puts on more
Townhouse Shopping Centre. is a byword for quality, noted mainstream operas and musicals.
for its texture and subtle colors. Dublin’s main opera venue is the
It can be bought at Magee 19th-century Gaiety Theatre,
Crafts
of Donegal. while the Bord Gáis Energy
Crafts are a flourishing way of Damask linen was brought to Theatre in the Docklands hosts
life in rural Ireland. The Crafts Northern Ireland in the late 17th mostly musicals.
Council of Ireland, which has century by Huguenot refugees. Rock concerts are held in the
branches in Kilkenny and The North is still the place for 3Arena or at the many outdoor
Dublin, can recommend linen, with sheets, table linen, sites during the summer.
good small-scale specialist stores. and other fabrics available from Die-hard rock and jazz fans
Outlets particularly worth Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen. should search out the musical
visiting include the Kilkenny Smoked salmon, farmhouse pubs for Irish bands.
Design Centre and Bricín, which cheeses, handmade preserves,
sell a wide selection of items. and, of course, Irish whiskey Irish Music and Dance
Established in 19th-century make perfect last-minute gifts.
Ulster, the Belleek Pottery The Irish pub has helped keep
produces creamy china with traditional music alive and
intricately worked decorative Entertainment Listings provided the setting for the
and Tickets
motifs, such as shamrocks and musical revival that began in
flowers. Royal Tara China, in The tourist board for the the 1960s. Nights of Irish music
Galway, is Ireland’s leading fine- Republic, Fáilte Ireland, and the and song are scheduled in pubs,
bone-china manufacturer, with Northern Ireland Tourist Board such as Johnnie Fox’s in Dublin,
designs inspired by Celtic themes. (see p135) both publish a yearly and The Laurels in Killarney.
Waterford Crystal is Calendar of Events that lists major However, sessions of informal or
undoubtedly the most famous fixtures and events around the impromptu music are
name in Irish glass-making, but country. The regional tourist offices commonplace. Wherever you
there are many other names of also provide local information. are, the locals will advise you of
similar quality. Galway Irish Tickets are often available the nearest musical pubs.
Crystal is an excellent make, on the night, but it is safer Popular dance spectaculars
available as elegant ornaments to book in advance. Most have raised the profile, if not the
and gifts. Jerpoint Abbey in venues will accept credit understanding, of real Irish
County Kilkenny inspires stylish card bookings. Visit www. country dance. Visit Comhaltas
local designs by Jerpoint Glass. visitdublin.com for information Ceoltóirí Éireann, in Monkstown
With a tradition that dates back about the city’s nightlife. near Dublin, or any of its

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