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.

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!