Wish List: Fun and fab gift ideas

And who wouldn’t find room all year round for a gilded crocodile or dog ornament (from €24 each)?

Canine Companions

Furniture for our furry friends — I’m talking about canine companions, here — what next? Well, DFS has come up with the idea of treating pets to their own sofa this Christmas. The best bit? You can source seating for humans to tie in with the room’s theme. 

We love the DFS Hallaton medium pet sofa in antique gold, €539, and the Joules Patterdale medium pet sofa in coral velvet, €539. (Full disclosure: It was the sleek four-legged models perched on these plush pieces that grabbed my attention as much as anything else!) For regular family members and guests, the DFS Dame four-seater sofa in forest green velvet is €1,099, the slipper accent chair in forest green is €419 and the Dame floral banquette footstool is €359.

Gift of Art

Give the gift of art this festive season and support the refurbishment of an artist’s studio in the heart of Cork city. Contemporary landscape painter Cora Murphy has designed a limited selection of gifts priced from €19.95. 

Cora didn’t start painting until she was 30. Then, having enjoyed success with solo shows, she took a step back from the gallery world to release her work directly to her supporters. She’s currently restoring a 200-year-old building on Douglas Street, Cork. The three-storey house will be her “live and work space”, says Cora. Wait lists are in place for Cora’s paintings, so this exclusive is worth checking out. The artist will donate €20 from the sale of every limited-edition print gift set over Green Friday Weekend to Cork Simon. The artist will host a sale at her soon-to-be former studio, 28a Henry Street, Cork City, on December 9 and 10, 10am-4pm. See www.coramurphy.com.

Simple Spa

In a cost-of-living crisis consumers are turning to simple “commonsense ways” to support their wellbeing and mental health, says the founder of a Cork essential oil candle company. Lighting a candle in the living room is an accessible and easy way to relax at the end of the busy day, says Paula McGovern. 

“While it would be lovely to have a spa day, that’s simply not affordable or possible for most women,” says Paula, who established Wizard & Grace in 2022. The Kinsale-based start-up has just released its second autumn/winter range of 100% natural and sustainable essential oil candles. The scents, packaging and names of the intention candles make them a thoughtful gift: Buiochas (gratitude) features thyme and frankincense; Oiche (night) includes lavender, chamomile and clary sage; Suaimhneas (peace) features elemi and patchouli; and the festive scent Nollaig (Christmas) is bursting with orange pine and cinnamon. There’s also a range of Celtic goddess gift sets, from €55, complete with journals made in collaboration with fellow Cork-based start-up Badly Made Books. Candles start at €28; see www.wizardandgrace.com.

Kopper Kreation

This eye-catching lamp has been handmade using mostly reclaimed and recycled copper plumbing pipes and fittings. 

It’s part of a range by Emmet Bosonnet of Kopper Kreation, Dublin, who focuses on creating handmade industrial homeware from lamps to bookends, planters and brand-new copper wreaths. The latter features a hoop made from a piece of recycled copper pipe and dried flowers supplied by fellow Irish designer Amelia Raben of Amelia’s Flower Garden in Kildare. The upcycled copper creations are made from reclaimed and recycled copper plumbing pipes and fittings. “The copper is hand-polished to a natural finish that will age and develop character over time,” says Emmet who also creates flower vases and planters made from recycled scrap and test tubes saved from an old science lab. The wreath is €50 and lamps start at €90. Check out

www.kopperkreation.com.

Christmas Cruise

Fancy getting onboard for a festive night with a difference? The Popscene Christmas Cruises next Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, in Cork Harbour. 

Cork Harbour Cruises’ fully weatherproof vessel sets sail on a two-and-a-half-hour cruise with the biggest 80s and 90s classics providing the soundtrack. Partygoers can dance the night away with a full bar on board, and DJs on the decks playing all the best throwback hits. You’ll also get a complimentary post-cruise transfer to Popscene bar if you want to keep the party going. Tickets are €65, https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/popscene-christmas-cruises-2781159 or xmas@popscene.ie.

Hug in a Mug

The Irish Design Shop has boxed clever with its seasonal collection — each box can be personalised with bespoke gifts for your loved ones. 

The box contains a selection of carefully curated quality goodies which are designed and produced in Ireland. Winter Wonders, Hug in a Mug, Far From Home, Self Care, Calm & Comfort, Merry & Bright, Thinking of You, New Home and New Arrival are the new themes for gifting season 2023. Customers are given options on products so they can build the box themselves selecting individual items to suit their family member or friend. A personalised seasonal greeting card is enclosed in the box which is beautifully gift-wrapped and finished in natural twine with a Grá gift tag. The Gift Boxes start at €25 and are available for delivery from www.irishdesignshop.com.