Dublin Area
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50 Special Places to Shop
Photos: (Clockwise, from upper left), Castle Market, The Dolls Store, Monaghan's, Louis Mulcahy's, The Harlequin and The Mad Hatter.
| As the capital of Ireland, Dublin is an exciting shopping
mecca, offering products from all over the Emerald Isle as well as many fine European
goods. Grafton Street, known as Dublin's "Fifth Avenue," is lined with enticing shopfronts. Other popular shopping streets are within a small walking radius — Dawson, Duke, Kildare, Nassau, Anne, Wicklow, Suffolk, and Great Georges Streets. On the city's north side, Henry Street is also synonymous with good shopping. For second-hand wares and for funky and unusual goods, head to Temple Bar. The center of Dublin's antiques trade is in the "Old City" along Francis and Patrick Streets. |
Click here for your shopping list:
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Shopping Centres
If you need ideas for what to buy, visit one of Dublin's indoor shopping centers
(multi-story malls or ground-level arcades) with many enterprises under one roof such as:
ILAC Centre on Henry St.
Jervis Shopping Centre on Jervis St. and Mary St.
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre on S. William St.
Royal Hibernian Way on Dawson St.
Stephen's Green Shopping Centre at the corner of Grafton and S. King St.
Westbury Mall off Grafton St.
Tower Design Centre on Pearse St.
Department Stores
Dublin has some excellent department stores such as:
Arnotts, 12 Henry St., a local favorite on the North side of Dublin.
Brown Thomas, 88/89 Grafton St., Dublin's most fashionable store.
Clerys, 18/27 Lr. O'Connell St., a four-story landmark with 70 departments.
Dunnes Stores, a budget chain with branches at St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre,
ILAC Centre, and nationwide.
Marks & Spencer, the British chain with branches on Grafton Street and Mary
Street.
Irish Tweeds
Cleo, 18 Kildare St. (tel. 767-1421), has been a trend-setter in Dublin for over 50 years. Owner Kitty Joyce aims to provide unique designer ready-to-wear fashions for women in patterns and colors not found anywhere else. It's a gem. Web site: www.cleo-ltd.com/loc.html
Kevin and Howlin, 31 Nassau St. (tel. 677-0257), is often referred to as a "tweed heaven" by men in search of fine Donegal tweed suits, overcoats, jackets, ties, and hats/caps. It's been pleasing customers for over 50 years. Web site: www.kevinandhowlin.com
Louis Copeland & Sons, 39/41 Capel St., (tel. 677-7038), a master tailor and ready-to-wear specialist for men. Also on 31 Lr. Pembroke St and 18/19 Wicklow St. Web site: www.louiscopeland.com
Magee at Wicklow Street, 28 Wicklow St. (tel. 679-5795). Donegal's finest tweeds are the featured attraction at this longtime Dublin favorite men's shop. Besides quality wool wear, fashionable and up-to-date styles are the keynote here. Web site: www.mageedonegal.com/mageeshops.html
Cashmeres & Woollens
Monaghan's, 4/6 Royal Hibernian Way, off Dawson St. (tel. 679-4451), is synonymous with fine cashmere sweaters at affordable prices. This family-run store, founded in 1960, has the best selection of colors, sizes, and styles of cashmere in Ireland, plus Aran knits, lambswool, and more.
Crafts, Crystal & Gifts
House of Ireland, 37-38 Nassau St. (tel. 677-7949) is a mecca for Irish and European high quality products from designer fashions and linens to Waterford, Wedgwood, Belleek, and Lladro as well as all types of souvenirs. Web site: www.houseofireland.com
Kilkenny Shop, Nassau St. (tel. 677-7066), offers the work of Irish designers and craftspeople in clothing, gifts, pottery and more. Web site: www.kilkennyshop.com/stores
Louis Mulcahy , 46 Dawson St. (tel. 670-9311).is one of Ireland's most acclaimed ceramic artists, based at Dingle, Co. Kerry. This shop sells his products ranging from vases, platters and teapots to doorknobs. If you can't make it to Dingle, stop in here! Web site: www.louismulcahy.com/webpilot/shops.asp?cid=51
Books & Music
Cathach Books, 10 Duke St. (tel. 671-8676, specializes in rare and antiquarian books, signed and first editions of Ireland's greatest writers, original maps, and prints. Web site: www.rarebooks.ie
Celtic Note , 14-15 Nassau St. (tel. 670-4157). Situated opposite Trinity College, this shop specializes in Irish music (traditional and modern) on CD, cassette or in books. Web site: www.celticnote.com
Claddagh Records, 2 Cecilia St. (tel. 677-0262) is Dublin's leading source for Irish traditional music on CDs, LPs and cassettes,, as well as folk music from other lands. Web site: www.claddaghrecords.com
Eason & Son Ltd., 40-42 Lr. O'Connell St. (tel. 873-3811), is a reliable all-category bookstore, and a literary landmark for over a century, with branches throughout Ireland and a second Dublin shop on the corner of Nassau and Dawson Streets. Web site: www.eason.ie
Hodges Figgis, 56-58 Dawson St. (tel. 677-4754), founded in 1768, is known for its extensive sections on Irish and Celtic literature.
Waterstone's, 7 Dawson St. (tel. 679-1415) offers books on every topic and is likely to be open more extensively than other shops — often late in the evenings and on Sundays. Web site: www.waterstones.com
Jewelry & Silver
Past Times, 13 Wicklow St. (671-7477), a unique shop featuring jewelry and gifts with Victorian, medieval, and Celtic themes. Web site: www.pasttimes.com
Thomas Gear, ILAC Centre (tel. 873-2998), established in 1969, claims to offer largest range of gold jewelry in Ireland including Claddagh rings, ogham and Celtic designs. Web site: www.thomasgear.com
Weir & Sons, 96-99 Grafton St. (tel. 677-9678), founded in 1869, this trusty store specializes in new and antique jewelry and watches , as well as silver, china, and glass. Web site: www.weirandsons.ie
Outdoor Markets
Blackrock Market , 19A Main St., Blackrock (tel. 283-3522). If you are in Dublin over a weekend (Satt-Sun afternoons), it is well worth getting a bus or the DART out to this southside suburb. Dealers offer antiques, crafts, books, hand-knits, etc. at more than 50 stalls. Web site: www.blackrockmarket.com
Cow's Lane Market , Cow's Lane, off Essex St. W. (tel. 677-2255). Nestled on the fringe of Temple Bar, this is Dublin's only outdoor fashion market. Open Saturday only, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Web site: www.temple-bar.ie/markets
Castle Market/George St. Market Arcade, off S. Gt. Georges St., is a covered market featuring an ever-changing array of new and used goods from scented candles and Celtic greeting cards, to mobiles, hats, and tee-shirts.
Moore Street Market, Moore St., off Henry St., offers a chance to see and hear Dublin street vendors at their best, selling fresh fruits, flowers, vegetables, fish, and other produce in this block-long open-air setting. If Molly Malone were around, she'd be here!
Temple Bar Market, Meeting House Square, Eustace & Sycamore Sts., in the heart of Temple Bar. This is an outdoor emporium of gourmet Irish goodies — farmhouse cheeses, smoked seafoods, baked goods, pates, chutneys, and organic vegetables and fruits, along with spontaneous street music. Weekends only. Web site: www.templebar.ie/markets
Temple Bar Book Market , Temple Bar Square. This is a gathering place for sellers and buyers of new and used books of all types including rare and unusual finds. It's held on summer Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. Web site: www.templebar.ie/markets
Specialty Shops
Butler's Irish Handmade Chocolates, 51A Grafton St. (tel. 671-0599), offers a delicious assortment of handmade chocolates and confections. Also located on Wicklow, Chatham and Nassau Streets. Web site: www.butlerschocolates.com
Celtic Whiskey Shop, 27-28 Dawson St. (tel. 675-9744), is a specialty liquor shop, with a wide selection of Irish, Scotch, and world whiskies (many rare & collectable) as well as other premium spirits such as poitin and mead, wines, champagnes, ales, beers, spirits, liqueurs, and Irish-produced gourmet foods and chocolates. Web site: www.celticwhiskeyshop.com
Crown Jewels – The Bead Shop, 12 Castle Market St. This small shop is a treasure-trove of beads, buttons, etc., between George St. Market and Powerscourt Townhouse Centre.
Dolls Store, 62 S. Gt. George's St. (tel.. 478-3403), is the top source for Irish and designer dolls and teddy bears, dolls' houses and miniatures. Web site: www.dollstore.ie
Fun Place, Ltd., 52 S. King St. (tel. 677-8817). Located next to the Gaity Theatre, this place is a source of theatrical costumes, masks, wigs, make-up as well as games.
Gartland Leather, 2nd floor, 44 S. William St. (tel. 679-3000). This is the walk-up workshop of Pat Gartland, a master tailor at fashioning fine soft leather jackets and other garments.
JJ Fox Ltd., 119 Grafton St. (tel. 677-0533). The Fox family has traded in cigars and tobacco products at this address since the 1870's. In recent times, with the downturn in smoking, it has also expended into the wines and spirits business. But if you want a great cigar in Ireland, this is the place. Web site: www.jjfox.ie
Knobs & Knockers,
19 Nassau St. (671-0288), is an ironmonger's studio of quality European
goods, trading on this spot since1972. It's the ideal place to find the
polished brass door knockers (particularly the Claddagh design) that you'll
see on the Georgian doors of Fitzwilliam St. or Merrion Square. Web site: www.knobsandknockers.ie
Magills, 14 Clarendon St. (671-3830), one of Dublin's
longest established food shops, offers cold meats, exotic spices and a
wide range of Irish farmhouse and international cheeses. It's a good place
to know if you are planning a picnic in one of Dublin's many parks.
Murphy, Sheehy & Co. , 14 Castle Market St. (tel. 677-0316), for fabrics, curtains, materials, linen. Web site: www.murphysheehy.com
Peterson of Dublin , 117 Grafton St. (tel. 671-4652). Established in 1865, this landmark shop is synonymous with pipes, cigars and tobaccos. It is home to Dublin's only walk-in humidor. Web site: www.peterson.ie
The Pen Corner, 12 College Green (679-3641), has been Dublin's fountain pen specialist since 1927. It sells all types of writing instruments as well as calligraphic supplies, artistically designed writing cards and stationery, and Irish art postcards.
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