Going to Dublin - looking for wool sweaters...

I looked at Blarney Woollen Mills online and their prices are actually pretty good for the type of sweater I'm looking for. Too bad I'm not in Dublin right now as they're running a special, Buy 2 get 1 Free.

The only thing I ever found that I could buy cheaper in Europe than the USA was Chimay (Belgian ale). There are online shops selling Irish sweaters so I'd suggest you start there so at least you know what's available from the States.

I saw many Irish sweaters and other woolen products at stores everywhere. Living in Houston, we don't use a lot of sweaters so it wasn't something I priced much. I do remember seeing prices for sweaters that were safely over $100.

I picked up a sweater in Ireland a few years back that I love - can't remember where, may have been Blarney Woolen Mills. It was under the brand name Carraig Donn. Since then, I have picked up two more in different colors on Ebay - brand new w/ tags - for considerably less. Since I know I wear a men's large in that brand, I had no doubt that these on-line purchased sweaters would fit.

We wandered into Dublin Woolen Mills a month or so ago. Don't bother. They have very little in the way of clothes and my wife said it was junk/seconds/discontinued/whatever; it's mostly yarn and buttons and cloth and such.

Try the Donegal Shop on one of the upper floors of the Stephens Green shopping center (south side of the river). Bring lots of money; my wife bought a couple for Christmas presents and the darn things were more than a hundred bucks per each.

I'm so sorry to hear that. There's nothing on the website that says they handle second-hand clothing...

I'm actually going there under assignment with a travel magazine and the shopping is a side thing I'll be doing since I might never get back to Ireland again for some time.

My son is hoping to find a nice button down cardigan while I want a nice pullover. We'll be arriving on 1 Sep and I'm rather counting on the weather being damp, to say the least.

One of the places I'll be seeing while there is the market in Temple Bar not just for the food (YUM!) but for the book stores and art galleries that line both sides of the street.

Nancy: not second-hand -- second quality, minor flaws

The main point is that they have very darn little in the way of clothes and what they have is not that good. Go elsewhere.

Oh, I see, sorry for the misunderstanding. I generally don't have much problem with seconds... So long as the flaws aren't glaring, they're just as good.

I also might like to find some glassware and/or dishware I can mail back home.

I got all excited... LOL! The only shop in Ireland is in Castle Bar on the western side of the island.

That happens with links. Wife will be back in a couple of days. Hold on. She'll know something.

I look forward to hearing what she has to say.

I've bought several nice things at Blarney Woolen Mills in Dublin and in Blarney.

If you are interested in second hand stuff, there are a few charity shops in Dublin and you might be able to find a nice wool jumper there (or some home stuff).

Oxfam Ireland and Mrs Quin's are 2 that come to mind.

New..Avoca http://www.avoca.ie/home/ and Carraig Donn http://www.carraigdonn.com/

Have fun shopping

Herself called last night to make sure I was not running with fancy women.

Blarney is the place to go. She says it's on the south side of Trinity College. She went there first, but bought at the other place instead of going back -- a mistake. I can't tell you where it is exactly, since that was a designated shopping day and I hide in museums for those.

She also said (about that first link) that what I said was correct. She says it's a good place for yarn which she bought for a craft-making friend. That one's easy to find: cross the Ha'Penny Bridge and, on the corner of the street heading north, there's a small park with trees and benches on the corner. The store is right there. You can double-check by looking at the benches until you find the one with my butt-dents from sitting so long.

If you continue up that little street you come to a wide, crossing, pedestrian street. That one has a bunch of department stores, but they seemed to be the ones you find in the UK (M&S and such). I didn't go in those either, so no advice from the non-shopper.

Oh my goodness, Ed, you're too funny! Running with fancy women, indeed. As though unfancy women isn't enough!

I actually have a good friend that crochets and she might be interested in the skeins of wool. She also like canceled stamps from different countries so I'll be sending her back a package and it sounds like she'll be getting some yarn.

I will make notes of the locations you've suggested so I might be able to pop in and see what they have.

@Debe - my teenage son is coming with me and he's actually looking forward to looking at the second hand stores for jeans.

He's rather excited at the possibility of owning designer jeans from Europe but the price of new is, well, a bit high...

Thank you for the suggestions of shops to browse.

Ed is right, Blarney Woollen Mills is right across from Trinity College, on Nassau St, if I'm not mistaken, just around the corner from the Molly Malone statue and Grafton St.

Hi: Have been to Dublin 3 times this past 18 mos and each time have gone to Cleo 18 Kildare St Dublin. They have beautiful sweaters, handmade and not. Prices are all over the map depending on if it is hand made but it's a lovely little shop with very nice staff.

I thought I read somewhere that the best sweaters were out of Dublin in the country somewhere. South, perhaps? Any comments

If it's the traditional Aran Fisherman Sweaters you seek then John Molloy of Adara in Donegal or Tivoli Spinners in County Cork are the labels you seek. Not cheap but the real deal. Or head off to any one of Carroll's Gifts and Souvenirs (maybe the St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre would be best) and buy a cheaper version.