Walking around downtown Dublin, you will pass lots of souvenir shops, almost all of them boasting the best wool that Ireland has to offer. The highest quality and most-often carried brand is Avoca, known for beautiful and brightly colored sweaters and blankets made in Ireland. However, before you start buying your wool souvenirs, take the opportunity to see them made! The Avoca location I visited was in Wicklow, set in the grounds of the old Jameson (of whiskey fame) estate, surrounded by ancient trees and rolling gardens. The shop there has lots of other great items, from knits to ceramics and glassware and jewelry. Visitors can walk through the old buildings, and watch future blankets being hand woven by their experts, and get a little knowledge of the processes. I bought a brightly colored throw blanket that I adore there. I keep it in my office, not only because it’s constantly freezing but because it’s a fun reminder of my travel in Ireland. Avoca is also a great place to stop by for lunch, featuring traditional Irish food in the cafe. There is also a fresh fruit market every day, so you can stock up on some produce to bring back to the city, or wherever you are off to next!
