Last week we ran an item on the move online by many small Irish businesses and the desire amongst consumers who shop online to shop local during this time of unprecedented crisis as an act of solidarity. Rather than just talking about it, we asked Twitter users to recommend local businesses. The response was massive and we got in excess of 1,000 recommendations. There were also a few people who said the only options when it comes to online shopping are giant international companies. That could not be further from the truth. The only pity is that we can only highlight some of great Irish sites here.
FOOD
ollysfarm.ie
Looking for Dublin honey? Then look no further than this site, which has a range of 100 per cent raw Irish honeys including heather, blossom and softset honey from different apiaries around Dublin and Wicklow.
harvestday.ie
A site which has the aim of creating "transparency around the food we eat. Weekly deliveries of locally sourced, organically grown produce, direct from small-scale farms in your community."
gourmettartco.com
A bakery beloved of Galway people for a long time, its online presence is being significantly expanded, which means more people across the country will be able to experience the delightful treats and hampers.
allirelandfoods.ie
All Ireland Foods is a family business based in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and its aim is "to encourage Irish food producers, growers, and cottage industries to sell and export their products online". We like their motto: "'If it's not grown, raised or produced in Ireland, or caught on Irish-registered trawlers it will not be sold on our site."
ardkeen.com
The Ardkeen Quality Food Store rarely goes unmentioned anytime we ask people to recommend good places to shop local, and so it was this time. The Waterford-based supermarket has moved into the online delivery space in a big way in recent times, and has widened its service to include nationwide delivery for just €6.95 per order.
hazelmountainchocolate.com
We've not actually tasted the chocolate from the Burren but we do love the sound of it.
essentialfoodtrails.com/farmers-market-store-2
We love this site which brings farmers' markets into a virtual world and a wider Irish market.
frankhederman.com
If you want smoked fish for a special occasion, you could run into Lidl or Aldi and get something cheap – or you could go direct to an Irish business and have it delivered straight to your door. Sure, it will cost a bit more but it will be a whole lot better.
neighbourfood.ie
This foodie heaven is another one that brings small producers to your front door – or at east to a collection point near you. A great idea that deserves support.
calveysachillmountainlamb.ie
The name of the site gives it away. Achill Lamb delivered to your front door.
greengrocerathome.com
Full disclosure: this is Pricewatch's local greengrocer and we have been shopping on the site almost since the start of the lockdown. We can't sing its praises loudly enough if you're lucky enough to live in its delivery area.
unglu-d.ie
A dedicated gluten-free food business with its own range of sauces and seasonings made locally in Co Louth. They come in handy 100ml bottles, so will make for lovely gifts. The folk behind it also do classes and help people learn more about GF.
ballymakennyfarm.com
Not all potatoes are made equal, as a quick browse here will make very clear. Along side the potato varieties you'll not have heard of, they also do bundles of queens and broccoli which look lovely.
buyirishfood.ie
We don't have enough space to include more of the wonderful Irish food businesses that have moved into the online space, but this site has a whole lot more of them.
thecounterdeli.com
If you are looking for wine, sweet treats, cheese and coffee, you can find it all here.
gubbeenfarmhouseproducts.com
Gubbeen has been one of the stars of the Irish food sector for years, and its pork and cheese products are available for delivery through the website.
jameswhelanbutchers.com
One of the finest butchers in Ireland, with a vast array of cuts from the very high end to the everyday.
kishfish.ie
The fish folk have launched an online delivery service with everything delivered in cooler boxes.
sheridanscheesemongers.com
All the cheese, cured meats, crackers and other accoutrements you could want straight to your door.
ART/GIFTS
shop.designist.ie
Pricewatch has long been a fan of this Dublin shop when in need of a fun and funky last-minute stocking filler . . . and no, we are not mentioning the word, not yet. The website is also pretty fantastic.
cogsthebrainshop.ie
Cogs the Brain Shop has a physical presence in the Stephen's Green Centre in Dublin, and an excellent site for games and toys that children will love.
greenoutlook.ie
Irish-based, with more than 25 Irish suppliers offering lifestyle products including shampoo bars, safety razors, natural skincare and a whole lot more.
mymilis.com
This Waterford business was only born in March, and all the soy candles are handmade using sustainable and natural ingredients at the owner's kitchen table.
drumgreenagh.com
Described by its owners as "a one-stop-gift-for-me shop based in Galway, full of made local delights . . . stuff that's a little bit different from the usual fare." Clothes, candles, ceramics, jewellery and a whole lot more besides.
hensteethstore.com
A lovely site selling lovely things and well worth a look for anyone in the market for a present for someone they care about . . . or themselves.
scoutdublin.com
Clothes, shoes, homewares, kids' stuff and a whole lot more. The site's ethos is to provide "a range of timeless products that steer clear from trends, instead offering functionality, good design and longevity" and to support "the wealth of talent in Ireland's thriving design scene".
slated.ie
Irish Family design studio creating (the hint is in the name) slate tableware and personalised gifts.
irishdesignshop.com
A site which prides itself on promoting the "work of Ireland's most exciting designer makers". It has both an online presence and a bricks-and-mortar shop in Dublin.
designireland.ie
There is a limit to the number of sites we can feature here. There is a whole lot more to be found here.
mimiandmartha.com
A new online store working with more than 40 makers and designers, with a big focus on local design. You will find tasty food, gifts, homewares and lifestyley things.
woodenheart.ie
If you are in the market for toys which are not plastic and virtually disposable, then take advantage of the Wooden Heart people, with a significant online presence complementing their shop in the heart of Galway.
jamartprints.com
Artists fill the gallery with fresh concepts in print, using both traditional and contemporary techniques. The site stocks ceramics, textiles, jewellery and street art "in strange and wonderful forms", with the owners saying they are "always working with the artists to create exciting new designs".
sijewelleryireland.com
Ailish from Sí Jewellery custom-makes jewellery, tie bars, pocket watches and more with custom images and quote. She can also make ashes- and hair-infused memorial pieces.
thewordbird.eu
This is the home of personalised and original pre-printed word art by Susan Brambell. The idea is brilliant. You provide her with a list of words and she makes them into a shape of your choice. The result is a lovely, personalised text art gift. There are also pre-done options if you're lost for words.
marketstreet.ie
"Indulge yourself or delight a loved one with our individually crafted gifts, made to inspire and charm. Handmade with love by over 100 passionate and creative Irish makers and designers." That is how this site describes itself and we can't do any better than that.
thecatandthemoon.ie
In their own words, the people behind this site are "purveyors of unique studio handcrafts and jewellery. Everything we sell is designed and fully handmade by artisans living and working in Ireland."
myshopgranny.com
This is an online platform stuffed to the gills with novel gift ideas and well worth a visit.
chupi.com
If you are in the market for something special for someone you care about you won't go wrong with this acclaimed jeweller.
bababox.ie
A Dublin-based site which specialises in gifts for mums and babies. They tell Pricewatch that lots of their stockists are also small independent Irish businesses.
ceramicsbyetaoinoreilly.com
A small but beautiful range of hand-thrown ceramics made by Etaoin O'Reilly, with jugs, diffusers, cups and decorations for that time of year that we'll not be mentioning just yet.
samagusnessa.com
All manner of gifts made by Irish hands using sustainable Irish wood.
finderskeepersthestore.ie
A design-led independent home and giftware store with a strong emphasis on sustainability.
29bridestreet.com
Sustainably designed and screen-printed lifestyle products and accessories made entirely by hand in Dublin by Liz Walsh. There's free shipping on all orders over €50.
thekind.co
A gorgeous online platform containing stock from more than 30 local businesses, with everything from kitchenware to kids toys. Everything is eco-friendly and ethically sourced.
blaithinennis.com
Multi-award winning jewellery brand, with all the pieces handmade from a studio in the south east.
etsy.com
Now, this obviously is not an Irish website, but there are loads of Irish people selling on the platform. Here's how you find them. You search for what you want and when the results come up you can apply a "shop location" filter which allows you to see only sellers based in this country.
CLOTHES
happiclose.ie
HappiClose is an Irish company which makes children's clothes that are easy to fit and fasten. "Special baby-soft Velcro is used for fastening. These clothes are highly adaptive, being particularly suitable for children who are difficult to dress," the site says.
sockcoop.com
Socks of Ireland? Yes, they're a thing now and the world is a better place for that.
electronicsheep.com
Very cool scarves and jumpers and – more recently – masks.
siolog.ie
A collection of high-quality, ethically made childrenswear and lifestyle products from independent Irish brands.
duesouth.ie
Ethically made T-shirts and hoodies. Oh, and sunglasses made out of recycled skateboards – what's not to love about that?
avoca.com
We could have put this shop into almost any category, really. Not an Irish-owned shop anymore, but it still sells a lot of Irish-made products. And at the time of writing – last Wednesday – it was still having a sale.
hairybaby.com
Can there be a Pricewatch reader who has not heard of this website? We have certainly plugged the T-shirt (and more recently mask) people enough. And they deserve it.
louiscopeland.com
An old-school tailor in a brave new world If you are looking for fancy clobber or cufflinks or bags and stuff, you will find it all here.
anastasiashop.com
This boutique has – in its own words – "an outfit for every occasion. We offer a great selection of stylish occasion wear for weddings, christenings, communions and confirmations from leading Irish designers including Fee G and Caroline Kilkenny. Other dressy wear ranges include Chiara Boni La Petite Robe and Stop Staring dresses."
siopaella.com
If you are looking for a place to buy and to sell fancy clobber, you need look no further than here.
ohhbygum.ie
A boutique that stocks all sorts of "eco-chic" for women and children, from fairtrade and sustainable fashion labels that you will struggle to find elsewhere.
beanantees.com
This site explains what it is better than we could. "Empowering apparel and gifts celebrating wild Irish women and An Ghaeilge. Designed, embroidered and printed in the hills of Donegal. Each range supports a different rape crisis, pro choice or LGBTQ+ organisation."
BOOKS
thecompanyofbooks.ie
Ranelagh-based bookshop which offers a click and collect service as well as a book postage services, It can also deliver within 2km of the shop.
charliebyrne.ie
No visit to Galway is complete without a browse in Charlie Byrne's. The bookshop is the city's largest and most lovely independent bookshop, with new and second-hand books on sale. Browsing online is obviously not the same, but it is still a thing of wonder. And the money stays in Ireland.
justbooksmullingar.com
Just Books describes itself as "a unique and charming bookshop located in the heart of Mullingar. We offer customers the personal touch and that's what makes us stand apart from other bookshops. We deliver books across Ireland. If you don't see what you are looking for, simply contact us and we will try our very best to get it for you." That's just one reason why shopping local is so much better than the alternatives.
adamscloud.com
We have long loved the books in this collection. They are full of love and warmth and while they may have been born out of great sadness, they have also given a huge amount of joy to parents and children everywhere and to children's charities across the country.
thebookshop.ie
More than 50,000 second-hand books at €2 or less, with free delivery on orders of more than €20. They have other books that cost more than that too. Lots and lots of them.
kennys.ie
Kenny's celebrates its 80th birthday this year and has the longest-running online bookshop in the world – take that, Amazon. It also often matches the big boys when it comes to price and beats them when it comes to quality.
gutterbookshop.com
Lovely bookshop run by lovely people in Dublin and Dalkey.
SKINCARE
indeora.com
A lovely range of magnesium deodorant sprays which are scented with natural coconut and vanilla oils. We are promised chemical-free products which don't stain.
thehandmadesoapcompany.ie
Natural, clean skincare and home fragrance which are entirely free from synthetics. They are also vegan-friendly and sustainably made by hand in Ireland.
palmfreeirishsoap.ie
Could there be better time to be in the soap business than now, when everyone is washing their hands with more vigour than Howard Hughes in a septic tank? This Clare-based family business offers an ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to mainstream cleanliness.
TECH
connectify.ie
Obviously when it comes to tech, there isn't a lot of it made in Ireland, but at least by shopping with a local retailer, you are contributing to the local economy. This site is promising next-day delivery on an impressive range of kit.
connscameras.ie
As wide a range of camera equipment as you will find almost anywhere – and you can also ring them and walk into their Dublin store, which you can't say about some of the bigger online retailers we could mention.
