The Irish Gifts & Jewelry Blog

Even though the economy may have taken a dip this year, there’s no reason why Christmas this year can’t be as special as ever. Our Irish jewelry section is full of great deals as well as tons of reasonably-priced ideas.

While a Celtic Cross is always special, the Warrior series of Celtic Crosses is unique in that the designs on the cross are based on designs found on the Ardagh Chalice. The Ardagh Chalice was unearthed in 1868 by two boys digging in a field. Today, it sits in the National Museum of Ireland as one of Ireland’s greatest treasures. The cross also features a Celtic Warrior shield at the intersection of the cross. Priced at $50.80, this is the special Irish Christmas gift that you’ve been seeking, and at a great price too!

With budgets tight this Christmas season, I thought that we could run a series of posts showing some of the lesser expensive Irish Christmas gifts that will keep Christmas special without emptying your wallet.

Our Mo Anam Cara (My Soul Mate) pendant in sterling silver features an 18K gold bead in the center of the heart. It is a beautiful gift to give to your “soul mate” this holiday season. This pendant in handcrafted in Ireland, and hallmarked at Dublin Castle.

The Mo Anam Cara pendant is almost 1″ high and just over 1/2″ wide. Priced at only $62.44, this pendant leaves a little money in the bank while showing her just how special she really is.

I wrote what I hope is a helpful article on the major styles of Celtic Wedding Ring available, as well as the metals used. Also touches on hallmarking in Ireland, as well as our conflict-free guarantee. Please click on the link below to access the article.

How To Choose Your Celtic Wedding Ring

With Christmas fast approaching, this is the perfect time to think of that Irish gift for that special lady in your life. Our large Claddagh pendant is the perfect piece of Irish jewelry to fit that bill. The Claddagh ring dates back many centuries, and this pendant is another way to wear its beautiful design and meaning.

This wonderful Irish pendant is handmade in Ireland, and hallmarked in Dublin Castle.  The craftsmanship is quite evident, and it is beautifully gift boxed.  The pendant is complete with an 18″ bell chain and clasp.  Give an irish gift this season with a truly personal touch, and one full of ancient Irish meaning.

The Mo Anam Cara series of pendants consists of a variety of designs – perfect for any taste and budget. They make wonderful Irish gifts!   These beautiful pendants are crafted in sterling silver, your choice of white or yellow gold (10K, 14K, 18K), or platinum. In Irish, the term Mo Anam Cara translates to My Soul Mate. These stunning pendants are classically Celtic in nature, and serve as a permanent symbol of the intimacy and bond that your share with you soul mate.

These pendants are also available in a variety of sizes, in solid or pierced designs, with or without a set stone, and also in a two-tone (gold bead on sterling silver) presentation. Additionally, there is also a version of the pendant available in Ogham script – one of the earliest known Irish languages.

There are two main sizes of these pendants available. The smaller of the two measures approximately 21.6mm in height and 14mm wide. The larger size is approximately 29.8mm high and 23.5mm wide.

All genuine Mo Anam Cara jewelry is handcrafted in Ireland by master craftsmen and is hallmarked at the Assay Office in Dublin Castle. Hallmarking of jewelry has been Irish law since the year 1637.

Each Mo Anam Cara pendant is completed by an 18” bell chain and is presented in an attractive lined box.

A very popular Irish wedding tradition is the wedding bell. During the ceremony, the bell is blessed, and the couple encouraged to give it a “good ring” while celebrating of their new union, its future, and the joy and happiness of the moment. We like the special touch of the Irish couple joining hands and ringing the bell together.  Wedding bells make great Irish wedding gifts!

The bell from your ceremony should then be kept within easy reach in your home. It is a great reminder of your Irish wedding day and serves a practical purpose as well. Should an argument arise, one party should take the opportunity to ring the bell - thus signaling a truce. Both parties should then take a quick moment to think back to their wedding day, the joy that they experienced, and the reasons that you both decided to join in marriage. More often than not, arguments are not about important things, and taking a moment to consider the “bigger picture” can show what a futile effort they are!

We’d encourage you to continue this wonderful tradition.  We have a Belleek Irish Wedding Bell and a Mullingar Pewter Irish Wedding Bell in our store.  Both are made in ireland.  Either one would be perfect for your Irish wedding day!

Intimacy and belonging played important and inseparable roles in Celtic life. Celtic people believed that souls could interconnect, forming the deepest of bonds. When this occurred, a person was said to have found their soul mate. In Irish, “My Soul Mate” translates into “Mo Anam Cara,” and is pronounced muh onum kara.

The Celts understood that all phases of life involve a journey from darkness into light. It begins with conception where we develop in our mother’s dark womb. We then emerge into the light at birth. As we progress in life, there are many physical, mental, emotional and spiritual changes. Each one can be seen as a similar journey. Finding one’s soul mate is no different.

Having a soul mate means that your barriers are completely down. You are willing to share anything and everything without reservation. While this takes tremendous amount of courage on your part, the reward is a companionship that is like no other.

These connections of the soul were by no means trivial in nature. Your soul mate is another being with whom you feel completely compatible with, in a variety of different ways. Those ways include spirituality, intimacy, friendship, and love. You could confess the most intimate details of your life to your soul mate in complete comfort, never fearing rejection, or scorn. Your bonds of friendship and love transcend all others, and you live for each other. Life apart is unthinkable.

In celebration of these deep and special connections, the Mo Anam Cara jewelry series was conceived. Each piece is designed to witness and to strengthen your union and devotion to each other. It is difficult to think of another piece of Irish jewelry whose design and meaning is so clear and so beautiful. It is a pure expression of unhindered love.

The beautiful pieces in the Mo Anam Cara jewelry series are meant to signify this special bond. They should be given to your soul mate as an expression of your thoughts, feelings, and spiritual bond. They are perfect for any romantic occasion, but especially for occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Anniversaries, and Weddings.

With another month comes the opportunity to show one of our favorite Irish gifts. Pink Tourmaline is the stone in the October birthstone Claddagh ring. These beautiful rings are crafted in Dublin, Ireland and each one is hallmarked at Dublin Castle.

They are available in sterling silver, as well as white and yellow gold. 10K, 14K, and 18K grades are all available. They are the perfect gift for a loved one.

These rings are custom-made and available just a few short weeks after ordering. Each ring is wonderfully presented in a ring box. The gift of a Claddagh birthstone ring is guaranteed to never disappoint!

Last week, some friends of of ours were looking for Celtic wedding bands in order to mark their upcoming wedding in mid September. They were looking for something that had a two-tone yellow and white gold design, and that incorporated traditional Irish symbols. Traditional Irish and Celtic symbols include:

The Trinity Knot

The Claddagh Symbol

The Celtic Knot

Now, there are other Irish and Celtic symbols, but the three above are definitely the most sought after. We looked through an exhaustive selection of different styles, and combinations before finding the perfect set for them. The ring shown above is the man’s version, but there is a matching wedding band for women. They chose the 14K gold (18K is also available) set and I’m sure that they’ll be very happy with them for years and years to come.

Dear Julie,

My Dad grew up in Dublin, before moving to the US when he was 12. He has fought for this country, and proudly flies the American flag in his front yard every day. Even after all this time, I know that he is incredibly proud of his Irish heritage. He is an amazing person who refuses to retire and still goes to work in a suit and tie every day without fail.Dad turns 60 on December 12th, and I’d like to get him something very special this year. Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks,

Cindy in Ohio

60th Birthdays are always a special time. In many cases, it is an opportunity to reflect on life, your roots, accomplishments, how your priorities have changed, and the person that you have become. That person would not have been possible were it not for upbringing, guidance, and the luck and challenges that life presented.

I would definitely guide you towards a personalized piece of jewelry for your father. This would be a piece that proudly displayed his family coat of arms. Since you mentioned that your father wears both a shirt, and a tie, you could choose between cufflinks, or a tie-tack.  Your father should be overjoyed with an Irish gift such as this, especially since it will be handed down from one generation to another.