No trip is ever complete without bringing home a souvenir. Aside from the pictures, you want to take something tangible that’ll remind you of your amazing vacation. Wherever you are, you can always find a plethora of mass-produced novelty items for tourists, like magnets, key-chains, bottle openers, snow globes, and figurines.

If you’re in Ireland, the best souvenirs are the ones that aren’t in the souvenir shops – Irish culture, heritage, and its significant contribution in the field of arts, music, and literature, can’t be contained in a cheap leprechaun magnet. 

Here are some of the best uniquely Irish items you’d love to take home from your memorable trip in Ireland. 

• Arts and Crafts

Buying a piece of art is always an amazing choice – it’s unique, and its value increases over time. It’s a good thing Ireland never runs out creative people.

If you’re in Dublin, check out Jam Art Factory, a haven for independent artists, established artists, and art enthusiasts. You can find bold prints and paintings that depict Irish landmarks and lesser-known corners, maps, and more. You should also step out of your comfortable accommodation in Dublin, wander and take photos of the city’s vibrant street art around the corner.

If you’re into traditional craftwork, the studio The Wild Goose provides a range of unique statuettes, plaques, reflecting Celtic history and heritage. You’ll find craftwork depicting crosses and Irish language phrases and themes.

• Aran Jumpers

The Aran sweater has become a staple of Irish fashion and design. The woolen sweater with thick, cable-knit stitches originated in Aran islands. The intricate designs signify Irish traditions: The cable knits signify fishermen’s ropes and hopes for an abundant catch; the diamond stitches represent the Irish moss farmers use to fertilize the fields; zigzag stitches embody Ireland’s craggy cliffs.

• Sturdy Textiles for the Cold Weather Ahead

Aside from the signature Aran sweater, top-notch textiles from its oldest mills have also been part of the Irish culture for centuries. If you’re in county Donegal, check out the sturdy Donegal tweeds, a plain-weave cloth with multicolor yarns. The fabrics produced in the homes of local artisans are designed to withstand rainy climates and brutal cold.

You may also buy one of the sumptuous blankets and throws, produced using traditional techniques passed down through generations.

• Pottery

Ireland is home to expert potters. You’ll love their wide array of ceramics and pottery pieces, from traditional Celtic-motif functional items (mugs, bowls, pitchers, platters, bowls) to hand-crafted modern décor, like wall plaques.

• A Reproduction of the “The Book of Kells”

One of the world’s most famous medieval manuscripts, “The Book of Kells” lies in Dublin Ireland. Next to visiting the 9th-century manuscript at Trinity College Dublin, you can fully appreciate its craftsmanship and significance by buying a reproduction of its most significant pages.

• A Rare Book/Volume from Ulysses Bookshop

Ulysses Rare Books, a bookshop on Duke street has been selling old volumes of Irish literature since the ‘80s. If you’re into 20th-century Irish fiction, come visit the shop whose walls are lined with first editions from prominent authors including James Joyce (author of “Ulysses”), WB Yeats, Oscar Wilde, and Flann O’Brien. You can also find great selections dating back to the 17th century.

• A Bar of Lemon Soap from Sweny’s Pharmacy

Sweny’s Pharmacy on Lincoln Place sells an iconic Dublin souvenir: bars of sweet lemon wax. It’s made famous by James Joyce. In his novel Ulysses, this is the spot where Leopold Bloom, one of the protagonists, buys a bar of lemon soap that he brings with him during his pilgrimage around Dublin. Add these bars to your collection of free toiletries hoarded from your hotel in Dublin.  

• Irish Musical Instruments

If you’re a music connoisseur, you may want to take home Irish traditional musical instruments that’ll remind you of the country’s fondness for music. Two of the most popular souvenirs are bodhrán (Irish frame drum) and tin whistle, which almost everyone can play. Uilleann pipes are another uniquely Irish instrument you may be interested in studying.

• Irish Whiskey

The word “whiskey” is derived from the Gaelic term uisce beatha, which means ‘water of life’. That being the case, Ireland is indeed the best place to drink and buy whiskey. There’s even a museum dedicated to the beloved drink.

Alongside the better-known Jameson Whiskey are other excellent blends to choose from:

• The Dublin Liberties
• Connemara Peated Single Malt Whiskey
• Feckin Irish Whiskey
• Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
• Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Limited Edition
• Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey

• Irish chocolate 

Never leave the Emerald Isle without bringing home some of their delicious milk chocolates. Thanks to their dairy cows who benefit from year-round lush grasslands, Ireland produces richer, creamier milk. 

Stock up on chocolate bars, hot chocolate, and assorted chocolate boxes. Even Irish Cadbury tastes better than varieties produced in other countries.

Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is one of the lifestyle writers for Aspect Hotel Park West Dublin, a modern hotel in Dublin, delivering exceptional accommodation and dining experiences for leisure and corporate travelers across the Irish capital. Writing articles about travel, food, and lifestyle is one thing she finds enjoyable, next to petting her cat.