best gift shops

Best Shops for Gifts

Top Gift & Speciality Shops in Galway 🎁

Top Galway’s compact shopping area is a hive of activity all year round and provides a wonderful shopping experience for visitors to the city. Street performers and buskers add music and colour to the city’s winding medieval thoroughfares, which are lined with an eclectic mix of old style and contemporary shops. Artisan craft, fashion and jewellery shops dotted throughout the Latin Quarter and Westend provide an opportunity to find that special gift to bring home to a loved one. Most popular among souvenirs of Galway is the famous Claddagh Rings or the cosy Aran Sweaters which are available in many of the local shops. Here are our recommendations of the essential go to shops when searching for the ideal gift. For a full list of great shops in Galway city see our Shopping in Galway section.

Judy Greene Pottery

Judy Greene pottery is one of the best known and longest established craft goods shops in Galway. Located in Galway’s Latin Quarter, off Cross Street in Kirwan’s Lane, Judy Greene Pottery stocks the best quality handmade goods from Ireland and international artisans. This beautifully decorated shop, spanning three floors of a restored medieval building also houses a pottery studio where signature items with distinct floral patterns from her product range are produced.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm. Closed Sunday
Address: Kirwan’s Lane, Galway City, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 561753
Judy Greene Pottery

2 Wild Geese

2 Wild Geese is home to the finest Irish Art and Design, so come on down and take a peek at all the colourful and creative art on display. Located on Cross Street in the Heart of Galway city, their friendly staff will be happy to show you around. Perfect for gifts and Interior and Business Design, we offer a diverse range of Original Art, Prints, Ceramics, Jewellery, Sculpture, Candles, Wooden products and Bags. Everything in the store is designed and made right here in Ireland, so what are you waiting for? Come on in and celebrate the best of Irish creativity with us; you’re sure of a friendly welcome!

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. Sunday 12 to 6pm.
Address: 13 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 R8DF
Tel: +353 (0)91 339196
2 Wild Geese

Designs of Ireland

Designs of Ireland, located on Cross Street in the heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter stocks one of the finest selections of Irish designed and handmade clothing and giftware. Specialising in hand knit sweaters and top-quality products, they have everything you need to create that genuine Irish look. Stocking products from Carraig Donn, Aine Knitwear, and Ireland’s eye and much more, ranges include warm winter woollies, ponchos and traditional shawls, finest real Irish tweed.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm. Closed Sunday
Address: 3 Cross Street Lower, Galway City, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 539790
Designs of Ireland

Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold

Thomas Dillon’s has the unique distinction of being Ireland’s oldest jewellery shop dating back to the 1750’s. Dillon’s have been making the Claddagh ring, which is widely regarded as Galway’s own symbol of love and friendship, on this site since the 1970’s. Along with the wide range of jewellery in stock, Dillon’s also houses what has been described as ‘the smallest museum in Europe with the biggest gift shop’. The small museum at the back of the shop exhibits some of the very first Claddagh rings dating from the 1700-1800s along with the ‘World’s smallest Claddagh ring’ presented at the tip of a tailor’s pin.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Sunday 12pm to 5pm.
Address: 3 Quay Street, Galway City, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 566365
Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold

Galway Woollen Market

The Galway Woollen Market is wonderful family run shop with bright orange facade located on High Street in the Latin Quarter area of Galway city. If you are looking for authentic, handcrafted Irish knitwear and merchandise for men, women and children you’ll find the perfect Irish gift or souvenir here. Their knitwear clothing ranges include genuine Aran sweaters, cardigans, hats, scarfs, mittens and much more which are manufactured to the highest standards using the finest quality materials: merino wool, pure new wool, linen/cotton, cashmere and introducing new super-soft merino wool. Friendly staff are on hand to help answer any questions you may have before making your selection.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm. Sunday 12pm to 6pm.
Address: 21 High Street, Galway City, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 562491
Galway Woollen Market

Wooden Heart

Wooden Heart is a beautiful little toy shop on Quay Street in Galway city. From the moment you approach the shop you are drawn in by its inviting façade which harks back to a bygone era. This family run business specialises in exquisitely made, high quality wooden toys and unique, unusual gifts ranging from adorable hand-painted toys, magical lighting or room decorations. With three floors to explore, up a winding metal staircase, this is a must stop if you are visiting Galway with kids or if you are looking for that special gift young children.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Sunday 11am to 5pm.
Address: 3 Quay Street, Galway City, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)91 563542
Wooden Heart

The Old Sea Dog

Welcome aboard The Old Sea Dog, a unique shop dedicated to promoting the power and beauty of the ocean that surrounds us. We offer a veritable teasure chest of goodies from Irish seaweed products and seashells, to fantastic maritime art, books and nautical decor. We also have our own 3D cards celebrating iconic Irish boats and our contemporary twist on the classic ship in a bottle, the mBád í mBolgan (Boat in a bulb). Situated in the salty heart of Galway on Cross street The Old Sea Dog is a must for sea lovers and treasure hunters alike.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 6pm. Saturday 9.30am to 6pm. Sunday 12 to 5pm.
Address: 11 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 VOH1
Tel: +353 (0)86 382 1791
The Old Sea Dog Shop

Gifts and Souvenirs in Galway FAQs

What are the best gift & souvenir shops in Galway?

Galway has a wonderful choice of great gift shops with some of the best listed below.

  • Judy Greens / Handmade Ceramics, Pottery, Fashion, Jewellery / Kirwans Lane
  • The Old Sea Dog / Nautical Treasures, Pop-up Cards, Local Art / Cross Street
  • Aran Sweater Market / Authentic Irish knitwear & accessories / Quay Street
  • O’Maille / Aran Hand-Knit Sweaters & Yarns / High Street
  • Galway Woollen Market / Premium Woollen Throws, Blankets, Scarves & Clothing / High Street
  • Kilkenny Shop / Gift Sets, Pottery, Fashion, Jewellery, Accessories / High Street
  • Treasure Chest / Giftware, Irish Souvenirs, Fashion, Baby Bits / William Street
  • Claddagh Ring Shop / Authentic Irish Jewellery / Quay Street
  • Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop / Labyrinthine maze of 100000 new, secondhand, antiquarian books / Middle Street
Where are the best places for local crafts in Galway?

Below are some of the best shops for arts and craft Gifts in Galway city and county.

  • Judy Greens / Handmade Pottery, Fashion, Jewellery, Accessories / Kirwans Lane 
  • Galway Weekend Market / Artisan Food, Fashion, Art, Wood & Pottery / Opp. St. Nicholas’ Church
  • Cloon Keen Atelier / Candles & Perfume / High Street
  • Ceardlann Craft Village / Art, Wood, Pottery, Ceramics, Leather goods / An Spidéal, Co. Galway
  • The Twelve Hotel Shop / Artisan Food & Wines, Fashion accessories, Art / Barna, Co. Galway
  • My Shop…granny likes it / ceramics, Art, Jewellery / Abbeygate Street
Where are the best gift shops for children in Galway?

Galway has a wide selection of shops selling beautiful Irish handmade toys and crafts for children, some of the best are listed below.

  • The Lighthouse Gift Shop / Kids Toys, Shells, Inflatables, T-Shirts / National Aquarium, Salthill, Galway
  • Away With The Fairies / Fairy Houses & Doors / Loughrea, Co. Galway
  • Wooden Heart / Kids Toys, Books, Puzzles, Imaginative Play / Quay Street
  • Smyths Toys / All kinds of Toys & Games / Headford Road Business Park
  • Flying Tiger / Scandinavian designed toys and gifts / Corbett Court Shopping Centre
  • Its Magic / Toys, Tech, Gadgets, Games, Puzzles, Juggling, Magic, Novelty / Corbett Court Shopping Centre
  • Art and Hobby / Art, Craft, Hobby & Toys / Corbett Court Shopping Centre

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