Christmas is just days away, and the final countdown is on for gift-buying. If you’re among those still looking for presents, help is at hand. Here at The Irish Times we’ve published a series of Christmas gift guides offering tips for what to buy for everything from tech gadgets to zip-lining. We’ve gathered them together below as a cheater’s guide to last-minute gift-buying this year.
Home and Gardening Gifts
Whether you’re hosting at home or facing a cavalcade of dinners or meet-ups at the homes of friends and family, Christmas can be a time to consider buying new homeware for either yourself or others. With this in mind, Alanna Gallagher gathered together some tasteful, fun - and, most importantly in this case, last-minute - gifts for the home, from handmade crochet Christmas decorations to a riff on the classic hi-ball glass.
For those looking for a gift for the home with more history this Christmas, Sylvia Thompson offered a guide to some of the unique finds on offer in Dublin’s antiques quarter. The treasures available include rare books, antique glasses, walking sticks and vintage furniture, as well as a furniture restoration course for something a little different.
Or are you searching for the perfect Christmas present for the gardener in your life? If so, Fionnuala Fallon offered her A to Z guide to the best gifts for the garden this year, encompassing everything from trousers to trugs to trees.
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Food and Drink Gifts
What do you get the gourmand who has it all? While a restaurant voucher is always welcome, if you want to really impress your favourite foodie this Christmas it’s time to think outside the box. As a foodie who feels she already has everything, Ali Dunworth gathered a selection of gorgeous things that she would love to receive for Christmas this year, including everything from Irish-made cheffy utensils featured on hit show The Bear to a beautiful handmade basket for spuds.
Looking for a gift for the wine-lover in your life? John Wilson has you covered. From books to wine preservation systems, he’s gathered together the best wine accessories to give this Christmas. Meanwhile, for any whiskey fans, John has also compiled four new whiskeys to give as gifts this Christmas, or even to enjoy yourself.
Tech Gifts
If you haven’t already picked out the tech gifts for under the tree, Ciara O’Brien has some suggestions to get you started. She’s got tips for every price range, and her recommendations range from everything from the updated version of the Nokia 3210 to a Dyson Airstrait.
Ciara also looked in detail into tech gifts suitable for children. Her suggestions include alternatives if you don’t want to add another screen to the pile vying for your child’s attention; as well as compromises if you’re still debating whether to give your child a smartphone.
Music and Book Gifts
An important part of being a music obsessive is checking out the latest merch, and this Christmas there are a number of must-have offerings available in this regard for the music fan in your life. From a Fontaines DC T-shirt to a scarf from Gurriers, Tony Clayton-Lea has gathered together gift options from the artists who defined the year.
For those looking for gifts of a literary persuasion, you can find inspiration from our guide to the books of the year, as chosen by celebrated Irish writers including Anne Enright and Joseph O’Connor. Their picks include modern Irish literary heroes like Sally Rooney and Donal Ryan, well as new titles by international authors such as Miranda July.
Beauty and Fitness Gifts
When it comes to buying beauty gifts, the sheer level of choice can seem overwhelming to those not in the know. Happily, our columnist Simone Gannon is on hand to help with her list of five of the best beauty gifts for Christmas from Irish brands. Her choices include homegrown brands that offer what she describes as “thoughtful, beautifully curated, unique gifts that are genuinely exciting to give and receive”.
From swimming to running, outdoor pursuits remain enduringly popular in Ireland despite our weather. Suzie Coen compiled a comprehensive gift guide for the fitness-lover or general thrill-seeker in your life. Her deep dive into all things outdoors includes everything from kayaks to ski goggles and even includes tools to aid your recovery after all that exertion.
Unique Gifts
For those looking for a particularly unique gift, several Irish Times writers offered ideas for presents with a distinctive flavour this Christmas. These gifts range from luxurious textiles to a history of the humble pint, as well as a special dinner at Carton House.
Sometimes the best gift isn’t even a physical item, but an experience. The gift of an experience can be even more fun and memorable than a physical gift. Sandra O’Connell offered a few suggestions in this regard - from unique flight experiences to spa days, and from zip-line thrills to pet pampering.
General Gift Guides
As well as our more specific gift guides, we offered several broader guides to shopping this Christmas season. To start, Conor Pope compiled a list of 100 Irish sites packed with Christmas present potential. The list covers everything from toy shops to Donegal tweeds, with options ranging from the handmade to the heartwarming.
On a budget? Suzie Coen offered jewellery, stationery, food and fashion ideas that won’t shatter the bank. Her smart choices include Poolbeg pillar candles and a “Notions” enamel badge.
Still trying to figure what to get for a person who is impossible to buy for? Penny McCormick has selected stylish gifts that will pass muster with even the pickiest people on your shopping list. Her list encompasses everything from spiral earrings to a Dolce & Gabbana-Bialetti espresso-maker.
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