Kerry —
Special Places to Shop


Photo: (Clockwise) Memories Linen & Lace, Killarney; a potter at work at Mucros Craft Centre, Killarney; Cleo at Kenmare; Conor Holden at Holden Leathergoods, Dingle and artisan adds trim to woven blankets at the weavers workshop of Mucros Craft Centre.

 

West Kerry CraftsAn Gailearai Beag/The Little Gallery, 18 Main St., Dingle (tel. 066-915-2976). Operated by the West Kerry Craft Guild, this shop displays the work of 16 local artisans living and working on the Dingle Peninsula - candles, ceramics, wood carvings, paintings, weavings, batik, embroidery, jewelry, stained glass, pottery, and much more.

Blarney Woollen Mills, Killarney Outlet Centre, Killarney (tel. 064-38480) is the latest branch of the popular retail chain that is based in Blarney and known for offering competitive prices and a wide array of goods. Prices in this shop tend to be the best in town for handknits, tweeds, crystal, jewelry, and othe fast-moving souvenirs.

Brian de Staic, High St., Killarney (tel. 064-33822) and Green St., Dingle (tel. 066-9151298), is one of Ireland's leading goldsmiths. He makes unusual gold jewelry, featuring Celtic and ogham script designs. Also visit the workshop at The Wood, Dingle (tel. 066-9151298).

Ceardlann Na Coille/Dingle Craft Centre, The Wood, Dingle (tel. 066-51797). See Kerry's traditional and contemporary crafts practiced at this cluster of cottages on a hillside beside Dingle Harbour. These workshops produce everything from knitwear and hand-weaving to woodturning, feltworks, and pottery.

Muisc House,DingleCéilí House, The Tracks, Dingle (tel. 066-915-1841), and its sister shop, Music House at 6 Orchard Lane, Dingle, tel. 066-915-2633, are both known for a wide selection of Irish traditional music and song.

Christy's Irish Stores, 10 Main St., Killarney (tel. 064-33222), a branch of the highly successful Cork enterprise of the same name, specializing in hand-knit or hand-loomed Irish sweaters, tweeds, and souvenirs of all kinds.

Dingle CrystalDingle Crystal, Green St., Dingle (tel. 066-915-0099), is the local enterprise of master craftsman Sean Daly who produces his own brand of full lead crystal in vases, bowls and stemware. Each peice is mouth-blown, cut with various original patttersn, polished by hand, signed and dates.

Ceili House,DingleDingle Music Shop/Siopa Ceol an Daingin, Main St. (across from the Post Office), Dingle (tel. 066-915-2618), is owned by a traditional musician, Michael Herlihy, so it is an ideal source for the latest in traditional music and instruments.

Frank Lewis Gallery, 6 Bridewell Lane, Killarney (tel. 064-34843). Located in a lane off New Street, this small gallery shows and sells the best of Irish contemporary art, especially with a Kerry theme.

Holden,DingleHolden Leathergoods, The Old Schoolhouse, Burnham, Dingle (tel. 066-9151796), housed in a former school building overlooking Dingle Bay. This is the workshop of Conor Holden, one of Ireland's outstanding young leather craftsmen. Conor has recently produced a new line of soft leather bags and accessories in bright fashionable colors and stylish shapes. Other goods range from bookmarks to briefcases, belts, wallets, and more. Although it's out of town, it's easy to find — just follow the signposts along the Slea Head Road about 3 miles west of Dingle. Alternatively, Holden's also operates a retail shop at Main St., Dingle (tel. 066-915-0099).

It Must be DingleIt Must Be Dingle, 12 Main St., Dingle (tel. 066-915-0121), is a showcase for the work of two local craftspeople – Martine Moriarty who paints local Dingle scenes in watercolors and oils and on  stained glass; and Ian Buckett who creates Barn Yard Animals, soft and woolly souvenir sheep designed and hand-crafted in various sizes and shapes.

Killarney Outlet Centre, Fair Hill, Killarney (tel. 064-36744 or 064-36663). Opened in September of 1999, this is Ireland's first manufacturers' outlet centre offering discounts of 30% to 50% on out-of-season or over-run stock, in the heart of Killarney next to the bus and rail stations. Shops are primarily international names such as Nike, Jean Scene, and Leading Labels, but also has a few prime Irish shops such as Blarney Woollen Mills..

Lisbeth Mulcahy/The Weavers' Shop, Green St., Dingle (tel. 066-9151688). This well-known Kerry weaver creates fabrics, clothing and tapestries inspired by seasonal changes in the local sea and landscape, using pure Irish wool, linen/cotton, and alpaca.

Louis Mulcahy Pottery, Clogher, Ballyferriter (tel. 066-9156299). Perched on the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula, this working pottery studio produces colorful products made from local clay and glazes devised at the shop — vases, teapots, platters, and much more.

Mucros Craft Centre, at Muckross House, Muckross Road, Killarney (tel. 064-31440). Located on the grounds of the famous Muckross House, this new shop carries on many County Kerry craft traditions and features an on-premises weaver's workshop as well as a working pottery — both of which can be viewed by visitors. There is also a wide selection of quality crafts from all over Ireland, and a skylit self-service restaurant overlooking the walled garden area. 

The White Room, 21 Henry St., Kenmare (tel. 064-40600), is a treasure-trove of quality Irish linen and lace goods — new and antique decorative accessories, tableware, bed linen, tea towels, and christening clothing. A sister shop also operates from April-October in Dingle at The Linen Chest, Strand St. (tel. 066-915-2455)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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