Good Buys
Antiques : Everywhere you go you will come across
antique shops and stalls, and one of the most famous 'antique
highways' is Francis Street (Dublin 7). This has many fine art
and antique stores, but you stand more chance of a bargain in
Bachelors Walk and Ormond Quay on the Liffey.
Art : There are some excellent private art galleries
in Dublin, many specialising in the work of contemporary Irish
artists. The Oriel Gallery in Clare Street (next store to Green
& Co. bookshop)has many fine works, particularly from the
20th century, while the Temple Bar Gallery in Temple Bar exhibits
the work of up to 40 resident artists. The Solomon Gallery (Powerscourt
Townhouse) displays the work of contemporary Irish artists.
Books : Dublin has many fine bookshops, both of
the general and specialist, new and second-hand types. Some of
the best include Waterstones and Hodges Figgis (of Ulysses fame),
on Dawson Street, both of which have sections in Irish interest,
and the Dublin Bookshop in Grafton Street. Fred Hanna in Nassau
Street sells new and second-hand books, posters and old postcards,
and International Books, on South Frederick Street specialises
in languages. If you're interested in antiquarian books, go to
Catch Books in Duke Street.
The Irish Film Centre in Estate Street houses a bookshop devoted
to all thing cinematic and televisual, and in Temple Bar are George
Webb's Bookshop (Crampton Quay) and Cathair Books (Essex Gate).
Greene & Co. in Clare Street has new and second-hand books;
Eason's on Lower O'Connell Street is a huge general bookshop with
a large periodicals and international press section. The Winding
Stair on Ormond Quay is a popular, labyrinthine second-hand bookshop
with a cafe.
Chocolates: Exquisite Belgian hand-made chocolates
are on sale in the Royal Hibernian Way and in Mary Street: their
Irish equivalents are at Butlers Irish Chocolates in Grafton Street.
Crafts: The Irish Craft Council Gallery at the Powerscourt
Townhouse Centre is a wonderful introduction to contemporary Irish
crafts.
Crystal: Waterford, Cavan, Galway, Tipperary and
Tyrone Crystal can be found at House of Ireland - just choose
your favourite design.
Food: Dunnes Stores (Ilac Centre) sell Irish smoked
salmon (ask for the wild, not farmed variety), and you might also
try McConnell & Nelson in Royal Hibernian Way, who will post
salmon overseas. Mother Redcap's Market has a treasure in The
Gallic Kitchen, and the Bretzel Bakery (Lennox Street, Portobello)
is a superb kosher bakery with delicious bagels.
Footwear: Try the Natural Shoe Store in Drury Street
and Tutty's (Powerscourt Townhouse), who make exclusive made-to-measure
shoes. Grafton Street also has a good concentration of shoe shops.
Knitwear: House of Ireland have a wide range of
Aran Knitwear as well as a selection of fine lambswool and cashmere
sweaters.
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