Look for local heroes this Christmas, for great gift ideas, great craftsmanship, and a great boost to the local economy.
Ground Wellbeing
Having spent years creating signature products for some of the world's swankiest resorts, spa consultant Peigín Crowley developed and launched her own range, Ground, from her kitchen in Cork in 2020. The products, which focus on essential oils for wellbeing, hit all the right aromatherapy notes during an anxious time. Made from pure botanical, vegan ingredients that are pesticide free, it's artisan aromatherapy at its best. Collections include Talamh, created to reconnect with nature; Codladh, to aid sleep; Beo, designed to uplift; and Cúram for comfort. With special ranges for kids too. Individual items priced from €18 to €55, see groundwellbeing.com.
Blackrock Beachwear
Now that sea swimming is a year-round preoccupation, snazzy beachwear is a legitimate Christmas gift. Of course, at this time of year, it's all about warmth. By buying from Blackrock Beachwear, you're buying from an inspirational entrepreneur, Louise Griffin. Not alone did she teach herself to swim during the middle of pandemic – from YouTube videos – but she celebrated that achievement by designing, manufacturing and launching a full range of beachwear, for both adults and kids. Women's swimsuits from €50, in 100 per cent recycled materials. Long-sleeved swimsuits with easy to get into zipped front (€53). Towelling ponchos (€48) and the all important robe (€120).
blackrockbeachwear.ie
Home by Notions
When Jamie Maguire's fabrication business, Notions Creative, which specialises in designing customer engagement experiences for brands, saw orders dry up during the pandemic, he got to work on something new. Home by Notions is a range of desks for those working from home. What's particularly neat about them is that they come flat packed for self-assembly and require absolutely no tools to put together. When you're finished working for the day, simply fold up and stow away, perfect for small spaces. Maguire has extended to include additional furniture, including a sideboard, all built on the same ultra-utilitarian, yet super cool looking, formula. Even better, he can build them to fit all specifications, because everyone's work-from-home space is different. Desks from €250. Foldable standing desks from €310.
homebynotions.com
Craft Cocktails
Dave Mulligan of Craft Cocktails single-handedly put poitín on the menu in some of London's swankiest hotels and cocktail bars, before coming home to Dublin in 2019 to open a cocktail bar of his own, Bar 1661, on Green Street. No sooner were its doors open when the pandemic called a halt to its cocktail shakers. Instead, he got to work developing a range of premium cocktails, which come in beautifully designed bottles and are available from selected stores and sold online. From mai tais to margaritas, strawberry daiquiris to raspberry negronis, to good old-fashioned old fashioneds and more. 200ml bottles serving two for €12.50, 700ml bottles €35.
craftcocktails.ie
The Lismore Food Company
If you're gifting hampers this year there are none so sweet, and none so smart, as the elegant orange hatboxes from The Lismore Food Company, in Waterford, stuffed to the gills with premium products. As well as their year-round range of treats, at this time of year you can add Christmas pudding from €14.50, or Lismore pantonne from €30, and cranberry sauce with port for a fiver. There are hat box hampers of all sizes available, and with sweet and savoury biscuits, beautiful condiments, hot and cold tipples plus all sorts of confectionary. Just order early, they sold out last year.
thelismorefoodcompany.com
Wowwee Personalised Gifts
When Clare woman Áine Gleeson couldn't find personalised Christmas stockings for her children, of the kind she had seen in US movies, she took matters into her own hands. The crafty woman, who at the time was a running a post office, designed and stitched her own. Such was the response that soon her friends wanted them for their kids too. From kitchen-table origins an empire has grown. Wowwee has sold hundreds of thousands of Christmas stockings around the world, and developed into a one-stop-shop for all kinds of personalised gifts. It's well worth visiting this Christmas for everything from baby's first blankets to Santa swag stockings from €13 to €30.
wowwee.ie
Stonechat Jewellers
If you're giving jewellery this Christmas check out Ann Chapman's Stonechat Jewellers in Dublin. Chapman started out as a solo craftsperson but today has a team of eight goldsmiths working with her. As well as an extensive range you can buy online, the team will melt down and remodel existing pieces too, which can be a nice way to repurpose something that has great sentimental value but which you don't actually like. She also sells the work of other highly talented designers such as Michael O'Dwyer, Seamus Gill and Helena Malone. Ten per cent of the profits from her Stepping Stone range goes to Aware, for whom she has already raised€19,000.Silver Stepping Stones earrings from € 110.
stonechatjewellers.ie
Kopper Kreation Homeware
Dubliner Emmet Bosonnet's Kopper Kreation is an industrial homewares brand that uses reclaimed and recycled material to create unique and eye-catching homewares. Copper predominates but he uses steel and brass too, whatever he can get his highly creative hands on – and save from landfill. An engineer by training but a craftsman by passion, his quirky range of lamps will light up your spirit, including copper heart shaped wall lights, large single-bulb floor stand lamps and the fab valve lamp, whose switch is an old-fashioned valve. Prices €50, €250 and€175 respectively.
kopperkreation.com
Paula Rowan Gloves
We might be jabbed up but if the pandemic has done anything it has shown us why every glamour puss in old movies wore gloves. Not only do they look the business, but now that we're all out and about with gusto they can do you a power of good keeping nasties at bay. For a super range, and an elegantly practical gift, check out Paula Rowan's gorgeous soft leather gloves, which fit like the proverbial. For extra va va voom opt for a silk lined, frilled double cuffed pair, in fire engine read, navy, black and purple lambskin, from €195.
paularowan.com
Words in Porcelain
We're a wordy nation, so if you fancy a gift whose meaning is spelt out in words, check out Orla O'Regan's Words in Porcelain, a unique range of handcrafted gift items such as wall plaques, 'gratitude bowls' and Christmas tree ornaments. Choose a line from your favourite poem or song lyric or create a bespoke piece with your own family word tree, or any message you like. Get in touch to see what's possible at orlaovisual.ie.
Síle O’Beirne: Osada Art
Limerick woman Síle O'Beirne was a prolific artist in her youth, whose work was commissioned by well-known figures in Ireland and abroad, including former president Patrick Hillery. After a hiatus of several decades, during which time she worked and raised her family, last year's lockdowns saw her take up the brush once more. Since then she has created an impressive array of painting, working in oils, charcoal and acrylic. She specialises in portraits but also creates landscapes, still life, abstract and fusion pieces, as well as commissions, always a lovely gift idea. Prints from €150 and original paintings from €350, depending on size – shipping and framing included. See her work and make inquiries on Instagram @osadaart.
