Expected gift from Ireland?

As we speak, my gf is in a pub in Dublin, Ireland. She is with her best friend and their mothers, the moms were gifted the trip since neither had ever left the US.

So, I’m holding down the fort. I know next to nothing about Ireland. Of course, she’ll return with a gift for me. A friend told me that “lace” is a common gift from tourists visiting Ireland. Damn, I hope not.

Disclaimer: the thought of a gift never crossed my mind until my buddy told me that lace was what I should prepare myself for.:smiley:

Whiskey.

Traditional touristy gifts also include:
Guinness logo stuff - some of it quite usable, some pointless or naff.
Leprechaun-themed stuff
Book of Kells themed stuff
A tin whistle
A bodhrán (a sort of flattish drum)

Whiskey.

Blarney Stone related.

One does not hold down the fort. One holds the fort.

Anyway, fingers crossed for whiskey.

Irish linen tea towels or if you’re lucky Waterford Crystal!

Whiskey or Guinness logo stuff would be great. I think my buddy was messing with me on the lace thing.

I hate the ungrateful tone of my OP, but I just wanted to be prepared with fake thanks if it had to be lace.:smiley:

Just don’t wear it out in public. :stuck_out_tongue:

When I was in Ireland last spring, I bought some things that seemed to go over well:

[ul]
[li]Little mugs and beer glasses from the Guinness gift shop in Dublin.[/li][li]Little things like worry stones and crosses and other items carved from green Connemara marble.[/li][li]A little Gaelic-symbol necklace for my niece.[/li][/ul]

I emphasize the “little” since I didn’t want to be dragging a lot of large, heavy gifts around in my suitcase. None of the above cost more than 10 euros. I also got my mom a handwoven scarf from the Mucros Weavers at Muckross House; that cost more (about 35 euros IIRC), but it was very light to carry and didn’t take up much suitcase space.

We have extremely different ideas about what “lucky” means!

:smiley:

They went all out and are finding you a tweed walking hat, a Celtic shamrock tie, a 100% wool cape, a Claddagh ring, some Belleek china, and a Waterford shot glass. Enjoy!

Heh. So far, the only Facebook picture posted was in front of a Guinness sign in Dublin, possibly the same gift shop!

The place I shopped at was on the ground floor of the Guinness Storehouse. You don’t get to see much in the way of actual brewing, but there’s a waterfall on the first floor, some general info about hops and barley, a gallery of classic Guinness ads, and a bar at the very top where you can get a 360-degree view of the city and a glass of beer (vouchers handed out when you buy your ticket).

Here’s their Web site: http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx (like any bar, they want to know your age before they’ll let you in).

I once worked with a fellow from Ireland. One time we walked up to McDonalds together for lunch. He told me he was going home to Ireland on vacation. I told him have a nice time.

He goes on vacation, la la la. He comes back, I say welcome back, did you have a good time, he replied quietly that he did have a good time, and brought me back a present, and had put it in my desk drawer. :dubious:

So I went and found what he brought back. He had gotten me beautiful lace, and the best smelling perfume. Well, I thanked him, and that was that.

I left the job to go work with another company that works closely with the job I was leaving.

Two weeks in, I received a letter from John. It was long, it was creepy. He wrote that he was in love with me, and did nothing his whole time in Ireland but think of me. :eek: The letter was all stalker like, before stalkers became trendy.

He started sending me flowers and jewelry to my new job. I tried to set him straight, but he would not listen.

He was the biggest account buyer we dealt with. I was told to do anything to make him happy :eek:

It was really stressful, and I would still always avoid him and have my friend handle his calls.

He was not happy, my boss was not happy, and I was fired (made up excuses).

So, I hope you get some pretty lace and some nice smelling perfume, but be careful, there are a lot of creepy men out there. :frowning:

Well, here’s hoping kayaker’s girlfriend isn’t some creepy man…

Man, I hate that Guinness branded crap. I don’t bring back Coca-cola merchandise as presents from America.

How about a nice Irish cable sweater? I used to love mine until it shrunk like all the rest of my clothes.

Cross your fingers and think whiskey!

Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey!

(Do let us know! We’ll be waiting to hear!)

My sister brought me back a gorgeous Irish fisherman knit sweater. I wish I still had it.

I do not wear sweaters. Never.
The first Xmas after I married my ex wife her parents gave me a very nice sweater. She offered to explain to them that I’m not a sweater guy, but I was embarrassed and asked her to drop it. Over the next 15 years I received 15 more sweaters; each box was carefully stored away, never to be opened again. My gf knows me, so a sweater will not happen!

ETA: whiskey, whiskey, whiskey!!

Were you in Atlanta?