The North —
Special Places to Shop
Shopping opportunities in the North range from (top row, left) the new Victoria Square Shopping Centre in Belfast; (top, right) Smyth's Irish Linens, Belfast; (middle, left) Belleek Pottery at Belleek, Co. Fermanagh and (middle, right) The Wicker Man in Belfast; to (bottom) three of the shops at the Derry Craft Village in Derry City -- The Wool Shop, Irish Dancing - Dance Specialists, and City of Derry Crystal.
The North of Ireland is known for its high quality crafts. What should you
look for? Pure Irish linen napkins, tablecloths, and handkerchiefs; Belleek pottery; polished Mourne granite; blackthorn walking sticks; and musical instruments such as harps, fiddles, drums, and bagpipes — these are just a few of the North's signature products.
Belfast, in particular, is synonymous with shopping. The main shopping street is Royal Avenue, home of well-known names such as Waterstone's, Jaeger, and Virgin Megastore. Other hubs of good shopping are Donegall Place; the Castlecourt Centre; and the spectacular new Victoria Square.
Shops in Belfast city centre are open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with extended hours on Thursday evening. Most other towns close a half-day on one day per week (different from town to town) and small shops sometimes close for lunch. Some large shopping centres on the outskirts of towns stay open until 9 p.m. and often on Sunday. For a bit of local color, look for market days which are held in many country towns at least once a week.
Here are a few shopping landmarks to get you started:
Avoca, 41 Arthur Street, Belfast (tel. 028-9027-9950). This is the first-ever “Avoca” shop in Northern Ireland – a branch of the original Avoca Handweavers founded in 1723 in Co. Wicklow and synonymous with colorful hand-woven woolens and tweeds. This shop also sells homewares, books, cookery utensils, and gourmet foods. There is also a café. Open daily. Web site: www.avoca.ie
Belleek Pottery, Main St., Belleek, Co. Fermanagh (tel. 028-6665-8501),
is known worldwide for producing delicate "basket weave" creamy white porcelain
china. Buy it throughout the island of Ireland or here at home base. Open daily
March-October, and weekdays only during November-February. Web site: www.belleek.ie
Buttermarket, Down Street, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh (tel.
028-6532-4499) is a unique craft complex housed in the town's former Buttermarket, dating
back to 1835. Shop in a 19th century atmosphere and watch local craftspeople at work, with
occasional traditional music, craft fairs, and street theater to enliven the experience.
Closed Sunday.
Derry Craft Village, Shipquay St., Derry (tel. 028-7126-0329), is a
shopping and entertainment complex that is laid out in a cottage-style format portraying
life in Derry from 16th- to 19th-centuries. One of the most distinctive features of the
village is the individual style of the windows — each window represents a particular
period of Irish history and illustrates the various changes that have taken place in
design and appearance. Crafts range from Derry Crystal to the Wool Shop and Irish Dance Specialists. Closed Sunday.
Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers, 16-22 Bedford St., Belfast (tel. 028-9023-0388) – carries on the tradition of Northern Ireland for making gentlemen’s shirts. Shirts are hand-cut and assembled in a small factory in Derry, and sold at this central location. The selection includes shirts in the following categories – classic city, custom grade, slim-fit, law and made-to-measure. Web site: www.smythandgibson.com
Smyth's Irish Linens, 65 Royal Avenue, Belfast (tel. 028-9024-2232), is a
landmark shop for fine linens, dating back to 1860. It is run by the 4th generation of the
Smyth family who still make linens at their factory at Peter's Hill in Belfast. In
addition to linens and damask, they stock hand-knits, china, jewelry, and soft toys as well as Titanic memorabiliaand Guinness merchandise. Closed Sunday.
St. George's Market, May Street at Oxford Street, Belfast (tel.
028-9032-0202), is Belfast's original "Variety Market," dating back to the 19th
century. Situated opposite Waterfront Hall, the market was completely restored in
1999, and is open on Fridays, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays, from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m., and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as a colorful outlet for fresh
fruit, flowers, fish, vegetables, clothing, crafts, and lots more. Web site: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/stgeorgesmarket
The Wickerman, 44-46 High St., Belfast (tel. 028-9024-3550), sells a lot more than wicker – a wide range of Irish crafts from over 150 suppliers including potters, jewelers, artists, knitters and clock-makers, not to mention souvenirs, musical instruments, Irish records, etc. Web site: www.thewickerman.co.uk
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