The Irish Gifts & Jewelry Blog

One of my absolute favorite Irish Gifts is anything to do with Guinness.  When it comes to Guinness barware, particularly, this Guinness Signature Party Pack is perfect for so many Irish celebrations.  This nicely packaged set contains:

• Two large Guinness signature pint glasses
• Four beer mats
• One large bar towel
• One packet of Guinness playing cards

Just add Guinness and you have all the makings for a very entertaining evening!  It is perfect for housewarmings, birthdays, and/or Christmas.  And let’s not forget about St. Patrick’s Day!  It is both an affordable and very creative Irish gift.  Everything that comes with theis set of officially-licensed Guinness merchandise.  Visit our store to see our entire range of Guinness gifts!

So many of our Irish gifts are inspired by Guinness®. Many of you probably know what Guinness® is, but did you know the long history behind the company? I find this subject fascinating, so I’ll probably write more about it when I have a little more time.

The year 1759 is remembered as the year when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease for an old disused brewery at St. James’s Gate, Dublin. For an initial cost of about $140 and an annual rent of $60, Arthur received a copper, a mill, a kieve, two malt houses, sufficient stabling for 12 horses, and a loft capable of holding 200 tons of hay.

Only seven years earlier, aged 23, Arthur had received his only inheritance of approximately $140. In 1769, Guinness® sent its first export shipment of six-and-a-half barrels of beer to England. In 1775, in a dispute with the Dublin Corporation, a committee was sent to cut off the water course that provided the brewery with fresh water. Arthur grabbed a pick axe from one of the crew and defended his right to access the water. The crew backed off, but it took another nine years for the dispute to be legally settled.

Over the years, Guinness® grew, both in popularity, and in size. In 1906, for example, almost one in 30 Dubliners depended on the Guinness® factory for their livelihood. Employees of Guinness enjoyed many perks almost unheard of in those days – high wages, vacations, medical care, housing, etc. Today, Guinness® is a world-renowned beer whose consumption exceeds 2 billion pints annually. It is not just a beer, it is a legacy.

Finally, the good weather has arrived! With Spring here, it’s time to think about fresh wardrobe, or maybe just one or two new items to add some variety.

Perfect for cooler days and evenings is our range of Guinness rugby shirts. We have several different styles to choose from, and all are at great prices. Our rugby shirts come with fully taped shoulder and neck seams, adding a great deal of strength to the garment. The buttons are also rubber, both for strength, and comfort. Made from 100% heavyweight cotton. All of our Guinness merchandise is officially licensed and are perfect to use as Irish Gifts!

Ever get tired of bottle caps dropping on the floor or counter when using your wall-mounted bottle opener? We’ve got the perfect solution for you! This is one of the many truly practical Irish Gifts that we’ve found.

This cap catcher is made from solid stainless steel for a lifetime of use. It comes complete with mounting hardware (two screws). Simply position the screws about 6″ or so on the wall beneath your bottle opener. Use the “keyhole” slots in the cap catcher as a positioning guide. Then, just mount the cap catcher onto the screws and you’re done! Hint: leave screws a little loose so that you can easily remove the cap catcher for emptying.

With the arrival of summer, it’s time to think about lazy days, cool drinks, and relaxation.  Of course, lazy days outside often call for a hat to block some of that sun, and I’ve found the perfect one.  It is interesting that summer actually starts on a different date in Ireland that the US.  In Ireland, May 1 marks the beginning of summer, while the US marks it on June 1.  In other countries, summer can be as late as July 1.  It is really a matter of convention, and often countries nearer the oceans have an earlier start to their summer.  That is because seasonal changes generally occur earlier in coastal regions.

This  Guinness “Luck of the Irish” Cowboy Hat is the perfect accessory to keep you cool during our warm summers.  It is made from roll straw and is accented with a great set of beads around the brim.  The Guinness “Luck of the Irish” badge, including a green shamrock completes the look.  The headband is flexible and soft for a “one-size-fits-most” fit.  These are sure to go fast!

It’s almost time to think about an Irish gift for Dad this Father’s Day. What would be better than a leather wallet from Guinness? These bi-fold wallets really are very nice. The exterior is stamped with a large Guinness badge - complete with logo. It also comes with a metal presentation can - a great touch!

The wallet is very functional with 9 credit card slots. In addition, there is a flip-over ID holder and two card-sized storage pouches. Throw in the fact that there’s also a nice large place to store your cash, and this is one Irish gift that Dad will remember (and use).

At only $25.99, this is a great deal. Naturally, it is officially licensed Guinness merchandise, because that’s all we sell!