Buy the Best of Ireland: A Shopping and Learning Guide to Irish Goods and Crafts

It is still possible to visit Ireland and find people lovingly and enthusiastically keeping their ancient cultural activities alive. This includes creating world-renowned traditional crafts and quality collectible. This guide to shopping in Ireland is organized by product (pottery, china, crystal, jewelry, linens, etc.) but also provides information on factory tours, hours of operation, history, and favorite product lines. Other more general information covers Value Added Tax (VAT), currency, terminology and slang, customs issues, and what's involved in shipping things home. A useful appendix provides a list of shops and clubs in the United States and Canada dedicated to selling and collecting products from Ireland.

Mary Jean Jecklin is the author of hundreds of articles on history, art, travel, crafts, collectibles, and shopping.