Celebrate Irish Artisans Holiday Gift Guide, the Best of Ireland

Caoimhe Murphy sheer ruffled dress is sexy and sweet in dreamy pink. A stunningly menacing dragon forged from fire and iron by artisan blacksmiths of Bushy Park Ironworks. Brilliant amethyst cocktail ring by jewellery designer Yvonne Ross.

Enticing you into a garden of earthly delights with iron fashioned into tender tendrils. A glorious iron gate by Bushy Park Ironworks in Dublin. Created by Edward Bisgood and Colm Bagnall in 1990, Bushy Park Ironworks design, forge and fabricate in a range of metals for public and private architectural projects.

Gabriel’s gate. Blowing horns in a triumph of the craft of blacksmithing. Bushy Park Ironworks.

What is a gate? Is it a barrier to keep out the riff-raff? In the hands of the consummate artisans of Bushy Park Ironworks, a gate is a work of art, a whimsical beginning of a fantasy, as yet to unfold.

Contemporary leather handbags by Galica Leather of Dublin are entirely handmade.

Minimalist, modern leather backpack in deep teal. Galica Leather.

Beautiful, handcrafted drawstring bucket bags in sustainable Italian, vegetable tanned leather. Galica Leather.

Craft Cocktails, winner of Ireland’s Best Cocktail award in 2019.

Santa just might prefer a warming Negroni cocktail instead of milk and cookies when he tumbles down your chimney. Craft Cocktails are a range of premium, colorfully bottled cocktails, hand mixed by an award winning team of bartenders in Dublin.

Invented by Craft Cocktails, Belfast Coffee is a blend of cold brew coffee, premium Irish poitín, (“Irish moonshine”) and rich demerara syrup.

Sustainable milliner Leona Ferguson fashions elegant headpieces for connoisseurs of fashion. This dramatic headpiece is crafted from piñatex, made from pineapple leaf fiber. It has a similar weight and feel to leather. This piece consists of a laser cut design based on a lace pattern, backed with tulle and wired to hold its shape.

A charming collaborative between Leonora and award winning lace maker Kathie Earle. The Irish lace wildflowers are fashioned into a headpiece fit for the queen of the fairies. Featured in Brown Thomas’ Create 2021! Leonora Ferguson was awarded Millinery Designer of the Year at the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards in 2018, the Traditional Lace makers of Ireland Award and the Eleanor de la Branchardière Award for Innovation in Lace at the RDS Craft Awards.

The tiniest of butterflies, sparkling in a delicate array of colors. Mini diamond ombré butterfly necklaces by Eriness Jewellery.

Diamond signet ring fashioned in rose gold. Eriness Jewellery.

Rose gold bangle bracelet set with a multitude of colorful gemstones. Eriness Jewellery.

Diamond and yellow gold RESIST ring by Eriness Jewellery. Let your jewelry make a statement.

Feminine with an edge. Striking silk and taffeta floral bomber jacket by Caoimhe Murphy.

Caoimhe graduated with a BA in Fashion Design from NCAD in 2019.  Since then she has worked under several industry luminaries –  Helen Cody, Simone Rocha and Sorcha O’Raghallaigh. Caoimhe’s work is feminine, quirky and distinctive; using natural materials such as organic silks and cottons, often employing embellishment and manipulation techniques in her designs. All pieces are made by hand in Dublin.

See the stunning work of many other talented Irish fashion designers along with Caoimhe here. Watch the Youtube video of the Autumn/Winter 2022 Premiere of the Council of Irish Fashion Designers. Image: CIFD.

Luminous pale blue porcelain vessel with spoon by contemporary ceramic artist Sinead O’Moore.

Lovely organic vessel in porcelain by Sinead O’Moore.

Bold form and vibrant pink porcelain by Sinead O’Moore Ceramics, Wicklow, Ireland.

What’s an Irish artisan gift guide without authentic Aran sweaters? Aran Sweater Market. The Aran Islands are located off the coast of Galway in western Ireland.

Classic Irish tweed combined with Irish hand knit wool sleeves. The perfect jacket for the country squire and just about everyone else. Aran Sweater Market.

Who couldn’t use a pair of cozy cashmere cable knit leggings? Aran Sweater Market.

Fashionable leather jacket for men. Aran Sweater Market.

Handmade contemporary knitwear by Romz J.

Romz J. Handmade knit sweater, two tone trousers.

Hand painted pants, hand knit sweater featuring a bow in the back. Romz J.

Fresh and natural Cucumber Lime handmade soap by Pure Oskar, available through ANAM.

The adorable Curragh Sheep Soap by Pure Oskar, through ANAM. Pure Oskar is a family run, Irish skincare brand specializing in ethical, natural, high-end soaps.

Milk and honey soap, by Pure Oskar, through ANAM.

Turn a boring white wall into a dynamic, dazzling art gallery. Vibrant acrylic painting,“ Tempestuous,” by Sorcha Cloney available through the Irish Art Market.

Professional spinner and weaver Dorinda McCormack fashions breathtaking handbags in Newbliss, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.

Clutch with original fabric woven on the loom by Dorinda McCormack.

Glorious handbag hand woven by Dorinda McCormack.

Enchanting acorn pin by Dorinda McCormack accented with hand woven fabric.

Green Sapphire Halved Halo Ring accented with diamonds by jewellery designer Yvonne Ross.

Delicate drop pendants of yellow gold and assorted natural gemstones, Yvonne Ross.

Men’s forged sterling silver Ogham ring with hand engraved ancient Ogham writing by Yvonne Ross.

Ogham is an early Medieval alphabet used primarily to write the initial Irish language.

Breathtaking “Forest Pendant” handcrafted in 18ct yellow gold with an elongated pear shape forest green tourmaline gemstone, highlighted with a brilliant cut diamond. Yvonne Ross.

If Santa turns out to be a cheap-o this Christmas, here’s the perfect silk scarf you’ll need to wear, designed by contemporary fashion designer Natalie Coleman.

This sweet sock puppy is ready to make a special child’s Christmas wish come true. Handmade from a brightly colored pair of socks, this darling pup is a finely crafted soft sculpture, ready to be loved. Red Rufus of Dublin.

Thank you to these valuable resources, which promote Irish artists and designers to the world: