The Irish Gifts & Jewelry Blog

Since I just finished updating the St. Patrick’s Day Countdown Timer, this seems like a good time to remind everyone of another free item that we have developed. It’s an Irish Wedding Countdown Clock, and unlike the St. Patrick’s Day Timer, it is completely stand-alone. in other words, you do not need to have Google Desktop, or anything else installed in order for it to work. You can download it at the following link:

Irish Wedding Countdown Clock

Once you run the software for the first time, a small screen will appear that asks you for the date and time of your Irish wedding. Just enter those details (yes, they are completely private to you and you alone) and the counter will appear and let you know the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds to your Irish wedding. You’ll find additional instructions at the link provided above.

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.

We’re excited about the two new additions to our range of Irish Celtic Wedding Tiaras.

The Silver Irish Celtic Claddagh Tiara mounts on the head with a standard-sized headband, while the Silver Irish Claddagh Tiara Comb is comb-mounted.

Both of these tiaras feature the Irish Claddagh in the center. Additionally, the Celtic knotwork behind the Claddagh forms a larger Irish Trinity Knot. The frontal design on these Irish Tiaras measure 2.5″ wide and 1.25″ high.

Rhodium plate is used to ensure a brilliant silver and tarnish-free finish. Each piece is beautifully accented with Austrian crystals set into the Celtic design.

Priced suitably for any budget, these new Irish wedding tiaras are sure to be extremely popular with Irish brides. Not only that, but they are also beautiful pieces of Irish bridal jewelry. Both are imported straight from Ireland.

One of the most beautiful rings that I’ve seen in a while is this “Gra Geal Mo Chroi” Gold Irish Wedding Band. The detail on the band is absolutely superb, and the florentine finish really makes the raised parts on the band stand out.

The words “Gra Geal Mo Chroi” are Gaelic and translate into “Love of my Heart” in English. This lovely phrase is inscribed in raised lettering on the band. The matching Ladies version of this band is also available here.

One of the best resources available on Irish weddings is the book The Traditional Irish Wedding by Bridget Haggerty. It’s a really great reference. In Bridget’s own words, here’s how this book came to be:

“The pile of notes grew into a 200-plus page manuscript - the book I’d been looking for when my daughter first expressed a wish that her wedding reflect her Irish heritage. So here it is. As complete as I could make it, with suggestions and ideas for attire, decor, menus, recipes, music, toasts, vows, and perhaps of most value, a resource listing that will help you find everything from Irish wedding gowns and tiaras to sheet music for a Celtic Mass. My hope is that when he says to you “would you like to be buried with my people”, or you say to him “would you like to hang your washing next to mine”, you’ll say yes, and then allow me the privilege of playing a helpful part in your wedding plans. And for all engaged couples and their families in the midst of pre-wedding chaos, I raise a parting glass– May all your joys be pure joy and all your pain champagne. Slainte!” –Bridget Haggerty”

At only $19.99 this is a low-cost start to planning your Irish wedding, and something that will add immeasurable value to your experience. I think it is a purchase that you’ll be glad you made!

For those of you not familiar with Mullingar Pewter, they make some of the finest pewter in Ireland. Every piece is hand-finished and their quality is excellent! We’ve just loaded a new style of Unity candle candlestick at Celtic by Design, and I’m sure you’ll agree that these are truly beautiful pieces.

Each candlestick has a continuous Celtic pattern around the exterior. The two taper holders can hold any “normal” size of taper candle. The larger centerpiece candlestick can take either a 3 or 4 inch Unity candle.

In addition to actually casting pewter, Mullingar Pewter is also responsible for reviving this ancient art in Ireland. Each piece is a treasure, and is bound to have a special place in your home for many, many years to come.

A good Irish gift for the groomsmen at your Irish wedding can actually be a tough one! You want something cool, something Irish, and something that they’ll remember. It’s a big plus if they’ll use it too!

What about whiskey measures from Mullingar Pewter? They’re unique (i.e. you don’t see them everyday) and you can have them engraved. Best place for the engraving is on the smooth area just below the rim, or at the bottom, if you’d prefer. We think these are a perfect gift for the “lads”!