There is just over 12 weeks till Christmas, the very organised amongst us will already be preparing for Christmas, stocking up on supplies and festive decorations and purchasing gifts for loved ones!
With this in mind we thought we would explore some popular Irish gifts and products from Ireland that have become increasingly more sough after in recent years.
One item that in the past few years has become a popular accessory for the home during the holiday season is a festive Irish throw blanket, available in mohair, lamb’s wool or merino wool, the comforting Christmas throw is ideal for snuggling up under on the cooler evenings during the festive period.
Other popular items being purchased more and more in the build up to the festive period or as special keepsake Christmas gifts are Belleek nativity figures and sets and Bellek and Waterford Christmas tree ornaments and. Beautifully crafted and available in a range of festive designs from snowmen to snowflakes, the Irish Belleek and Waterford Crystal ornaments are a special edition for any tree this Christmas time.
Blarney Woollen Mills was established in 1823 and is the largest Irish gift store in the world.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Friday, 20 September 2013
Michelin Starred Chef launches new kitchenware at Blarney in Cork
Michelin Starred chef Raymond Blanc was in Blarney, Cork last week to launch his new kitchenware collection, complete with a cookery demonstration at the Meadows and Byrne Store
Sharing kitchen secrets, hints and tips with a small group at the store located at Blarney Woollen Mills - the home for Irish Gifts, from 12pm, the top French chef is no stranger to cooking under pressure, having featured in numerous television cookery shows – many live!
A fantastic range from a fabulous chef, Raymond Blanc has just seen his latest TV show: Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well air on BBC2 in the UK over the summer and the top chef was delighted to be in Ireland to show off his new kitchenware collection and to enjoy the Irish hospitality whilst he is here.
The new cookware collections are available in hard anodized or cast aluminium, the hard anodized range is a heavy-weight collection that features all essentials such as stir fry pan, grill pan and casserole dishes. Both ranges are dishwasher proof and carry lifetime guarantees.
Sharing kitchen secrets, hints and tips with a small group at the store located at Blarney Woollen Mills - the home for Irish Gifts, from 12pm, the top French chef is no stranger to cooking under pressure, having featured in numerous television cookery shows – many live!
A fantastic range from a fabulous chef, Raymond Blanc has just seen his latest TV show: Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well air on BBC2 in the UK over the summer and the top chef was delighted to be in Ireland to show off his new kitchenware collection and to enjoy the Irish hospitality whilst he is here.
The new cookware collections are available in hard anodized or cast aluminium, the hard anodized range is a heavy-weight collection that features all essentials such as stir fry pan, grill pan and casserole dishes. Both ranges are dishwasher proof and carry lifetime guarantees.
Friday, 6 September 2013
Irish Jewelry: The use of St Brigid’s Cross
As mentioned before, there are many Irish Jewelry designs that incorporate symbols, objects and cherished motifs that are associated with Ireland.
One popular symbol that features heavily in the use of jewelry designs, especially as Irish Celtic pendants is the St Brigid’s Cross, which would be depicted in gold or silver compared to its traditional form of woven rushes!
In its traditional form it is said to thought to keep evil, fire and hunger from the home in which it is displayed, the unique St Brigid’s Cross is accredited to St Brigid, also known as “Mary of the Gael”, a patroness of Ireland who first created the cross.
The tale of how she created the unique St Brigid’s Cross design however is slightly confused and although there is not one exact version, one interpretation is that there was an old pagan Chieftain – some say this was her father – who lay delirious on his deathbed in Kildare. His servants summoned Brigid to his beside in the hope that the saintly woman may calm his restless spirit. Brigid is said to have sat by his bed, consoling and calming him and it is here that she picked up the rushes from the floor and began weaving them into the distinctive cross pattern. Whilst she weaved, she explained the meaning of the cross to the sick Chieftain and it is thought her calming words brought peace to his soul, and that he was so enamoured by her words that the old Chieftain requested he was baptized as a Christian just before his passing.
This rushes cross, became known as the St Brigid’s Cross and became an emblem associated with her. For centuries this emblem has been used in Irish designs, with many modern stylists using this now popular Irish symbol within the designs of Irish gifts, Irish jewelry and traditional Irish gifts.
One popular symbol that features heavily in the use of jewelry designs, especially as Irish Celtic pendants is the St Brigid’s Cross, which would be depicted in gold or silver compared to its traditional form of woven rushes!
In its traditional form it is said to thought to keep evil, fire and hunger from the home in which it is displayed, the unique St Brigid’s Cross is accredited to St Brigid, also known as “Mary of the Gael”, a patroness of Ireland who first created the cross.
The tale of how she created the unique St Brigid’s Cross design however is slightly confused and although there is not one exact version, one interpretation is that there was an old pagan Chieftain – some say this was her father – who lay delirious on his deathbed in Kildare. His servants summoned Brigid to his beside in the hope that the saintly woman may calm his restless spirit. Brigid is said to have sat by his bed, consoling and calming him and it is here that she picked up the rushes from the floor and began weaving them into the distinctive cross pattern. Whilst she weaved, she explained the meaning of the cross to the sick Chieftain and it is thought her calming words brought peace to his soul, and that he was so enamoured by her words that the old Chieftain requested he was baptized as a Christian just before his passing.
This rushes cross, became known as the St Brigid’s Cross and became an emblem associated with her. For centuries this emblem has been used in Irish designs, with many modern stylists using this now popular Irish symbol within the designs of Irish gifts, Irish jewelry and traditional Irish gifts.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Irish Jewelry: Celtic Harps and Shillelaghs
Many Irish Jewelry designs incorporate symbols and objects that are associated with Ireland.
The Celtic Harp for example, which can sometimes be referred to as the Irish Harp and is said to have been enjoyed by ancient Irish Kings who employed harpist to entertain them, is a treasured musical instrument and national emblem of Ireland, and features prominently in Irish Jewelry designs especially upon Celtic Brooches, as well as in patterns on many Traditional Irish Gifts, such as Belleek China.
Similarly the Shillelagh, a type of walking cane or walking stick that is sometimes described as a cudgel that has a knotty head and usually made from Blackthorn wood with a leather wrist strap joined to the handle are not only popular as Irish gifts but also feature prominently in Irish jewelry designs, especially as small replica charms for Irish charm bracelets.
The Celtic Harp for example, which can sometimes be referred to as the Irish Harp and is said to have been enjoyed by ancient Irish Kings who employed harpist to entertain them, is a treasured musical instrument and national emblem of Ireland, and features prominently in Irish Jewelry designs especially upon Celtic Brooches, as well as in patterns on many Traditional Irish Gifts, such as Belleek China.
Similarly the Shillelagh, a type of walking cane or walking stick that is sometimes described as a cudgel that has a knotty head and usually made from Blackthorn wood with a leather wrist strap joined to the handle are not only popular as Irish gifts but also feature prominently in Irish jewelry designs, especially as small replica charms for Irish charm bracelets.
Friday, 16 August 2013
Irish Jewelry: Emeralds & Shamrocks
Despite not being a stone native to Ireland, the emerald features prominently in Irish Jewelry due to their vivid green color. Once associated with healing powers and if legends were to be believed thought to have made their wearer more intelligent and witty – these intense green emerald stones adorn many pieces of Irish jewelry, including earring, rings, bracelets and pendants.
A birth stone for May and traditionally a gift given on a couples 55th Wedding Anniversary, emeralds are most commonly used in Irish shamrock jewelry as their green color lends itself as an ideal stone to represent this national symbol of Ireland.
Shamrocks like emeralds have their own legends and beliefs, as it is thought that when shamrocks are worn they will keep you from harm and that they will bring good luck to those who wear them.
Traditionally worn on St Patrick’s Day, is its believed that the shamrock was brought into Ireland by Saint Patrick, who it is said, plucked a shamrock from the ground to explain his belief in the Trinity.
Shamrocks are cherished by Irish people around the globe and they frequently feature in the design of Irish gifts, especially within the design of Irish jewelry.
A birth stone for May and traditionally a gift given on a couples 55th Wedding Anniversary, emeralds are most commonly used in Irish shamrock jewelry as their green color lends itself as an ideal stone to represent this national symbol of Ireland.
Shamrocks like emeralds have their own legends and beliefs, as it is thought that when shamrocks are worn they will keep you from harm and that they will bring good luck to those who wear them.
Traditionally worn on St Patrick’s Day, is its believed that the shamrock was brought into Ireland by Saint Patrick, who it is said, plucked a shamrock from the ground to explain his belief in the Trinity.
Shamrocks are cherished by Irish people around the globe and they frequently feature in the design of Irish gifts, especially within the design of Irish jewelry.
Friday, 9 August 2013
Celtic Jewelry: The Meaning of the Tara Brooch
First discovered in Bettystown, County Meath in 1850, the Tara Brooch, which dates back to around 700AD is an elaborate and impressive example of classic Bronze Age Craftmanship, and which today is proudly displayed in the national museum of Ireland in Dublin.
Composed mostly of silver and gilt, and embellished with delicate interlacing patterns, the Tara Brooch is made into many different pieces before its assembled into the detailed Celtic Brooch design that we are accustomed too. In fact it has been said that when it was first discovered, all but one panel was missing!
The Tara Brooch takes its name from the Hill of Tara, which is traditionally seen as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, even though the Tara Brooch has no connection with either. However, the legend of the story goes that after it was sold by the then finders to a dealer, and then on to the Dublin Jeweler and a reviver of Celtic Jewelry, George Waterhouse, and it was he who renamed it the “Tara Brooch” to make it more charming.
Worn by both men and women due to its practical propose in fastening caps, cloaks and other clothing, today the Tara Brooch still remains a popular piece of Celtic Jewelry to give as Irish gifts and is one of Ireland’s most widely recognized Celtic Brooches.
Composed mostly of silver and gilt, and embellished with delicate interlacing patterns, the Tara Brooch is made into many different pieces before its assembled into the detailed Celtic Brooch design that we are accustomed too. In fact it has been said that when it was first discovered, all but one panel was missing!
The Tara Brooch takes its name from the Hill of Tara, which is traditionally seen as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, even though the Tara Brooch has no connection with either. However, the legend of the story goes that after it was sold by the then finders to a dealer, and then on to the Dublin Jeweler and a reviver of Celtic Jewelry, George Waterhouse, and it was he who renamed it the “Tara Brooch” to make it more charming.
Worn by both men and women due to its practical propose in fastening caps, cloaks and other clothing, today the Tara Brooch still remains a popular piece of Celtic Jewelry to give as Irish gifts and is one of Ireland’s most widely recognized Celtic Brooches.
Friday, 2 August 2013
Celtic Jewelry: The Meaning of the Triquetra or Trinity Knot
If the intricate designs and patterns of Celtic Knots are one of the most distinctive features of Celtic Jewelry, than the Triquetra or Trinity Knot is one of the most widely recognised and common of the Celtic Knots.
A Latin name, Triquetra means three-cornered, and although
there are many theories suggested for the definition of this popular design,
what remains a common theme to each is that they mention the significance of
three parts, which depending on your beliefs can be interpreted as Father-Son-
Holy Spirit, Mother-Crone-Maiden or Mind-Body-Spirit.
The Trinity Knot or Triquetra adorns many Celtic pendants
and Celtic earrings, and in recent times Celtic Knot Jewelry featuring the
Triquetra have become popular Irish gifts and souvenirs from Ireland. This
growth in popularity could be linked to the modern day representations and use
of the Triquetrea upon the cover of the “Book of Shadows” within the America TV
show Charmed, its use within the design of the Led Zeppelin Album – Led Zeppelin
IV or maybe its use in the fashion label Lionheart Apparel Clothing.
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