I always buy wool sweaters when I'm in the west of Ireland. Quill's Woolen Mill has stores in Killarney, and in Sneem, on the Ring of Kerry, with a pretty good selection at a fair price ($40-45). The same quality sweaters in the U.S. would sell for $100.

Galway Crystal has a showroom in Galway, and Royal Tara also has a showroom there, both easy to find off the main road into town (they're not in the downtown area). I've bought a couple small vases from Galway Crystal in the past and they've been well received as gifts (around $10-15).

Last trip over I bought Celtic rings, in Galway, for my friends daughter (then 15, 17) and they loved them. Make sure you get ring sizes before you head over. I think this is the link for the store if you want to get ideas before you go (the store prices were lower than the U.S. brochure prices they gave me, in case I wanted to do anything mail-order after I left there):

http://www.claddaghjewellers.com/



[This message has been edited by tom911 (edited 04-26-2002).]