There's a tremendous variety of stores in Dublin, many of which are quite sophisticated -- as a walk through Dublin's central shopping area, from O'Connell to Grafton Street, will prove. Department stores stock internationally known fashion-designer goods and housewares, and small (and often pricey) boutiques sell Irish crafts and other merchandise. But don't expect too many bargains here. And be prepared, if you're shopping in central Dublin, to push through crowds -- especially in the afternoons and on weekends. Most large shops and department stores are open Monday-Saturday 9-6. Although nearly all department stores are closed on Sunday, some smaller specialty shops stay open. Those with later closing hours are noted below. You're particularly likely to find sales in January, February, July, and August.
Dublin is one of Europe's best cities in which to buy antiques, largely due to a long and proud tradition of restoration and high-quality craftsmanship. The Liberties, Dublin's oldest district, is, fittingly, the hub of the antiques trade, and is chock-a-block with shops and traders. Bachelor's Walk, along the quays, also has some decent shops. It's quite a seller's market, but bargains are still possible.
You won't have any difficulty weighing down your suitcase with books. Ireland, after all, produced four Nobel literature laureates in just under 75 years. If you're at all interested in modern and contemporary literature, be sure to leave yourself time to browse through the bookstores, as you're likely to find books available here you can't find back home. Best of all, thanks to an enlightened national social policy, there's no tax on books, so if you only buy books, you don't have to worry about getting VAT slips.
Ireland is the place to buy Waterford crystal, which is available in a wide range of products, including relatively inexpensive items. Other lines are now gaining recognition, such as Cavan, Galway, and Tipperary crystal. Brown Thomas is the best department store for crystal; top specialty outlets are listed below.
Don't think Irish woolens are limited to Aran sweaters and tweed jackets. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the range of hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, and other goods here. If you're traveling outside of Dublin, you may want to wait to make purchases elsewhere, but if Dublin is it, you still have plenty of good shops to choose from. The tweed on sale in Dublin comes from two main sources: Donegal and Connemara. Labels inside the garments guarantee their authenticity. Following are the largest retailers of traditional Irish woolen goods in the city.
