Who more than anyone deserves a special gift? The Irish mammy, who puts up with so much from her children and always looks after their needs.

The Irish Mammy is probably best summed up by this irreverent joke: How many Irish Mammies does it take to change a light bulb? "Don't mind me dear, I'll just sit here in the dark."

She is that woman in your life who never asks you for anything and has always given you so much. So this Mother's Day give your Irish Mammy something really special.

Here's a list of our top ten Irish Mother's Day gifts:

1. Take in an Irish show

There's no better gift than that of your time so why not treat your Mammy to a night out on the town to see a brilliant Irish show. There's certainly no excuse with the number of successful Irish shows doing the circuit.

Roscommon man Chris O'Dowd is currently on Broadway with James Franco in "Of Mice and Men" and Irish American Neil Patrick Harris is currently performing in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

The Irish Arts Center in NYC has a jammed packed Spring / Summer schedule as does the Irish Rep.

Whereever you are in the US there's always some kind of Irish performance going on!

2. Spa holiday in Ireland

We’re talking total luxury here, because if you’re going for a spa holiday you really shouldn’t scrimp. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Powerscourt is perfect. Wicklow is the Garden of Ireland and Powerscourt the jewel of Wicklow, making the hotel’s spa a wonderful place for a tired Irishwoman to relax.

Failing that, how about bringing her away for a weekend to a more local spot? Whose Mom wouldn't like a trip to New York for a bit of shopping?

3. Irish jewelry

A gift of jewelry is the quickest way to a woman’s heart – but it all depends on the jewelry. The Kilkenny design store stocks beautiful pieces, handmade by Irish craftsmen. Click here for the Kilkenny design store.

Another good option is Newbridge Silverware, which is hugely popular in Ireland. The Kildare silversmiths have really given a brilliant modern twist to the traditional design of Irish jewelry.

4. Irish chocolates

Really, you can't go wrong with chocolates, but make sure they're the right ones. As a wise man once said chocolates feed the soul as well as the stomach. Log onto FoodIreland.com to order the best Irish chocolate on offer.

5. Some Irish books

Irish women are great readers and like nothing more than retreating from the family hubbub to a quiet corner with a book. Do your Mom a favor and buy her something good to peruse while you kids are making her dinner.

We highly recommend Colum McCann's "Let the Great World Spin" or Colm Toibin's "Brooklyn" for a great New York inspired read.

6. A new handbag

It is a universal truth that a girl, no matter what age, loves a new pair of shoes or a bag. As you're not going to go out and buy her a pair of shoes can we recommend a handbag by the massively successful Orla Kiely.

If you don't think these are up your Mom's alley then try the Kilkenny Design Centre or Brown Thomas (the equivalent to Ireland's Bloomingdales).

7. Gift basket of Irish treats

There are certain food stuffs that Irish people take very seriously. Tea bags, of course, and then there's Tayto crisps, fruit cake, chocolates and cheese to consider. The ideal gift for someone who's away from their home country is a basket filled with treats from home. Siopa.com have food baskets ranging from $70 – $200 containing all the foods your Mom will love.

8. A Claddagh ring

The essential meaning behind the traditional Irish Claddagh ring is 'Let Love and Friendship Reign Forever.' What better gift to give your Mom on mother's day.


The symbol we all know is drenched in meaning. The hands of the ring are shown holding the heart and the hands denote friendship and togetherness. The heart itself signifies love and the crown in the claddagh ring stands for loyalty.

9. A flight home

There are bound to be loads of people back in Ireland that your Mom would love to catch up with. Why not send her home for a vacation with a flight from Aer Lingus? There are plenty of promotions and sales going on, so keep an eye on the website for a good deal.

10. Gift voucher

If your Mom's  heading back to Ireland why not buy her some vouchers so that she can splash out and spoil herself at home? One4All vouchers are a great idea as they let you shop in hundreds of Irish stores. Alternatively buy her a gift card for Arnott's department store or Brown Thomas.