The Irish Gifts & Jewelry Blog

One of our all time favorite lamps is this beautiful Claddagh lamp.  Made in the Tiffany style, it features a large 12″ diameter shade, depicting the Irish Claddagh.  The Claddagh is likely the best known Irish symbol, dating back to the 17th century.

Originally used for Claddagh rings, this symbol of Love, Loyalty, and Friendship is used today in a wide variety of Irish merchandise.  This beautiful lamp is no exception, featuring the Claddagh in richly colored stained glass.   The heart represts love, the hands stand for friendship, and the crown symbolizes loyalty.

Mounted on an antiqued 20″ metal stand, this Irish lamp would be a wonderful addition to any Irish household.  Would make a welcome and spectacular Irish wedding gift!  Operates on normal US household power, with a rotary On/Off switch on the cord.

Although there’s still some time left until Christmas, now is a good time to think about Advent, particularly if you’d like an Advent wreath to mark and track this special time. Advent wreaths also make wonderful early Irish Christmas gifts. Advent begins on the Sunday which is four Sundays before Christmas, and the word comes yo us from the Latin term adventus, which means “coming”. Wikipedia tells us that Advent is “the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, in other words, the period immediately before Christmas.”

Advent is traditionally marked by use of an Advent wreath. Again, Wikipedia offers the following:

Many churches make use of Advent wreaths during this season, with one candle representing each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas. The pink candle is lit on the Sunday before Christmas.

We have several beautiful Advent wreaths to choose from this year. On the first Sunday of Advent, try to gather everyone in your household together for the lighting of the first candle. Candles should be lit as follows:

First Sunday
A purple candle is lit, which symbolizes Hope.

Second Sunday
Two purple candles are lit, the second one symbolizing Love.

Third Sunday
Three purple candles are lit, the third one symbolizes Joy.

Fourth Sunday (Sunday immediately before Christmas)
The pink candle is lit, an addition to the three purple candles. The pink candle symbolizes Peace.

Christmas Day (Optional)
If your Advent wreath has a center white candle, it should be lit (along with all the others) on Christmas Day, symbolizing the arrival of Christmas.

Be sure to browse our Irish Christmas section to find the Advent wreath that’s right for you this Christmas season!

We’ve really been ramping-up our selection of Ireland’s Belleek Parian China as of late. I have to say that this is one manufacturer that is no stranger to quality at all. It is one of the most popular Irish gifts that we offer, and there is no shortage of styles in their range.

Belleek’s founder, John Caldwell Bloomfield, laid down strict policies for his company. He was adamant that any piece that was not literally perfect, was to be destroyed. To this day, that policy remains in place. The result is a guarantee of quality, and many would say - simply perfection!

There are 80 days left until Christmas! I don’t know about everyone else, but Christmas is my all-time favorite part of the year. It has something to do with the chill in the air, and then getting inside to a nice warm house. It also marks the end of the busiest time of the year for us, with tons of people shopping for Irish gifts!

At any rate, my reason for posting was to let you know that we have added a great deal of new Christmas items to our Irish Christmas section this year. More animated treetoppers (Santas and Angels), more Christmas ornaments, and more of just about everything else. I wanted to just let you know that as most of these items are seasonal in nature, and when they are gone…they are gone. In most cases, there won’t be any additional stock coming in as most of the distributors will be out too.

So, don’t delay this year. It might be a bit early to celebrate Christmas, but its not too early to get a jump on your favorite Irish Christmas decor!

This beautiful Celtic memory stained glass lamp makes a perfect Irish gift. Shade features a beautiful Celtic cross design and is handmade. Base is presented in an antiqued finish. This lovely lamp stands 9″ tall and would make a great addition to any Irish or Celtic household!

One of my favorite Irish gift items is this beautifully framed print of an old Irish blessing.  Some might say it is more of a curse!  Honestly, it makes me laugh every time I see it.  

The blessing reads:

May those who love us love us,
and those that don’t love us,
may God turn their hearts;
and if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles
so we’ll know them by their limping.

The blessing is printed using a beautiful calligraphic style.  Comes with a nicely detailed gold frame with marbled matting.  The frame is measures 14 1/2″ wide and 7 1/2″ high. �

A lamp is just the thing to brighten up a horizontal surface, or accent a favorite area in your home.  This particular Stained Glass Trinity Knot Lamp is just what is needed.  It is certain to become the focus for conversation from your guests.

The lamp features an antiqued brass finish on the detailed base.  The shade is made of Tiffany-style, real stained glass, that has been beautifully assembled by craftsmen.  The is approximately 18″ in height and operates with a single easy-to-find pull chain.

There’s beautiful coloring and detail in this high-quality Celtic Shamrock Wall Sconce. I often think that Irish Wall Decor is one of the best Irish gifts that a person can give.

Everyone seems to have an blank wall spot somewhere in their home, or even on a porch or patio, that could use a little excitement. The vivid colors in this wall sconce are intended to do just that! With its Celtic knotwork design and shamrock accents, its sure to please. It looks just like stone, even though it is crafted from hardier resin - ready for literally years of use.

The glass votive cups are attached to the sconce with wire cupholders. Also, the three green candles are included. Sconce measures 11.5″ in diameter - the perfect size to be noticed, without being overbearing.

Don’t miss the ultimate accessory for St. Paddy’s Day preparations! Our St. Patrick’s Day Countdown sign is the perfect tool to keep track of the days remaining until one of the most famous celebrations.

Made right here in the USA, this sign comes complete with individual wooden tiles that let you proudly display the number of days remaining. Wonderfully decorated like an old Irish pub sign, there is a mixture of Gaelic and Old Time text and fonts. Sign is finished with a stain applied by hand in order to give it an antiqued look.