Eoin Lyons goes out on the town with three artful shoppers: singer Brian Kennedy, caterer Lu Thornely and fashion designer Kate O'Brien
LU THORNELY
Thornely owns the LaraLu food stall in the George's Street Arcade in Dublin, and also caters for private parties. This Christmas she will be returning to her family home in Bristol. "One of the things I'm giving my mother is a box of chocolates that will arrive each month of the year, delivered by The Chocolate Tasting Club in England (www.hotelchocolat.co.uk). They send a selection of very good, fresh chocolates, nicely presented, for £9.95 per month. They don't deliver to Ireland, but it's a good choice for chocoholic friends in the UK." At her stall Lu sells Valrhona chocolate (from €7.50) that could make a nice alternative.
For the child of a friend, Lu has her eye on a pink leather "pig" push-car from the Pinocchio toyshop in the Westbury Mall, off Grafton Street, Dublin 2 (€115). At Pia Bang Home on South Anne Street, Dublin 2, she suggests looking at cake stands. "They're glass or ceramic, but all very pretty and reasonably priced - this one is lovely and costs €15." Also for foodie friends, Lu goes to Kitchen Complements on Chatham Street, Dublin 2, where a sophisticated potato masher costs €32.75. "It's something most people don't have, but it is the way to get restaurant-style creamy mash, and it can also be used for turnips, parsnips and other root vegetables - just put everything in and twist."
BRIAN KENNEDY
The singer will spend Christmas at his new home in Dublin, where he has just moved from Killaloe. Although he is in the middle of an Irish tour that runs through the Christmas season, he will spend time with his niece and nephew, who are his sister's children. "When you're a teenager, you really want money or vouchers and that's what I often give," he says, "but because they grew up mostly in England, I've been trying to introduce them to Irish music. Celtic Note on Nassau Street, more than any other record shop, has the best selection, so I'd go there to find something." On this occasion, however, he's taken with the new Kate Bush CD. "I love Kate, and would buy this for friends - it's safe to say a lot of people will like it."
In Brown Thomas, he spots another possible gift for friends - a black Waterford Crystal vase by John Rocha (€250). "This is great, there's something very opulent about black glass." He also visits Paul Sheeran Jewellers to look at watches. "I love to buy beautifully made things, and it's something an uncle should do - give a first proper watch." The ones he favours are by the German company, Tag, in particular the classic, masculine Monaco watch (€3,000).
KATE O'BRIEN
O'Brien sells her clothing collection, Re-Create, at the new Top Shop store on St Stephen's Green. She will spend Christmas in Dublin with her family. Her gift ideas are about doing something creative, or finding something special. At Murphy Sheehy in Castle Market, Dublin 2, she plans to buy two pieces of fabric to make a duvet cover for her mother. "It's a simple thing to do - buy two pieces of differing fabric in the right size and have someone stitch the two together, with buttons across the top." Murphy Sheehy can recommend people who will do this, or ask at an alterations centre. Also in this shop, Kate spots damask linen napkins (€3) for an aunt. "They're really nice quality, but how you present them matters. I'd bring them to Wraptures on Francis Street, Dublin 8, where the staff will wrap them in their amazing papers." For men, Kate likes the idea of buying neckties or cashmere jumpers from A Store Is Born on Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 (open Saturdays only). "Neckties are a stylish thing most men mightn't buy for themselves." Yesteryear, on North Frederick Street, Dublin 1, is a shop few may have heard of. "It's a really interesting place that sells unusual, collectable things, all military related - badges and helmets from 1916, old toys dating from the first World War, early 19th-century uniforms - all things that could make presents."