Let these creative, unique and thoughtful gifts inspire you when planning something special for a loved one this Valentine’s Day …
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1. For opera lovers: Tickets to the Irish National Opera’s highly-anticipated production of L’elisir d’amore is the perfect gift for theatre lovers. This two act “dramma giocoso” by Italian composer Donizetti is brought to life by Irish soprano Claudia Boyle and US tenor Duke Kim. Tickets cost from €48.50 for performances in Wexford, Cork and Dublin. Opera fans will also like The Shelbourne’s new Margaret Burke Sheridan suite that includes memorabilia including recordings of the Irish soprano’s best roles – she was known as Puccini’s favourite Butterly. Also of note is Blackwater Valley Opera Festival that runs towards summer and features over 100 performers across 23 events at 12 venues. The highlight will be Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with four performances staged in the majestic grounds of Lismore Castle.
2. For art lovers: Did you know that Frederic William Burton’s painting, ‘Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs’, 1864 holds a record at the National Gallery of Ireland? More couples have got engaged in front of it than any other piece of artwork. You can buy a print or notebook of the painting for your beloved from the gift shop.
3. For poetry lovers: Nicola Reddy’s newly published Best-Loved Irish Love Poems or Seán Hewitt’s remarkable poetry collection Rapture’s Road, which is on the shortlist for the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize 2025. Fans of Donna Ashworth will want her new anthology, To the Women: Wise Words Every Woman Needs which is “a love letter to our deep capacity to love, rage, fear and rebuild.” Originally self-published in 2020 with 48 poems, the book has been updated with over 70 new poems.
4. For card lovers: I had a preview of Moonpig’s Valentine cards, which are so fun. My go-to is normally art gallery shops, especially the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin or why not make your own? Learn the art of modern calligraphy at Sarah O’Dea’s workshops or pop up. Book here: www.eventbrite.ie
5. For cocktail lovers: Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, so it’s a great excuse for an after work drink. Try the Love Potion at The Shelbourne that combines Gunpowder Pineapple with Aperol and Campari, garnished with a heart made of raspberry powder.
6. For champagne lovers: Moët & Chandon’s concierge service at Brown Thomas Grafton Street and Dundrum in Dublin provides a complimentary personalisation service of their ‘Specially Yours’ gift boxes. My pick? Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial (€61) is distinguished by its fruitiness and brings together flavours of apple, citrus and gooseberry.
7. For whiskey connoisseurs: The Whistler P.X. I Love You is a great gift for whiskey aficionados, part of the award-winning Whistler range from Meath-based Boann Distillery. Deriving its name from the Spanish Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry casks in which it is finished, this is a single malt made from malted barley. The whiskey undergoes a meticulous aging process, initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for nine months in PX sherry casks, which gives its distinctive depth of flavour. Notes of dried fruits and brown sugar combine with walnut and zesty citrus for a smooth finish. Priced at €61, it can be ordered online.
8. For food lovers: The English Market in Cork is foodie heaven, a great date venue to mooch around the stalls. If you can’t make it, many of the traders also offer Valentine’s Day deliveries. The Roughty Foodie will make a special “Pure Cork Tapas Box” packed with local treats including Cork cheeses, spiced beef from the Chicken Inn, smoked salmon from O’Connell’s, homemade chutney, figs, fruits and champagne from Bubble Brothers, with a fresh bouquet of flowers for €100, collected or ordered online.
9. For candle lovers: If your beloved has a keen eye and nose for posh candles, they are sure to like Cork-based Studio Byrne’s Grá candle, which was showcased at the Irish Embassy during the recent Paris Fashion Week. It’s scented with fragrances of vanilla, coconut and balsamic; infused with rose quartz – the stone of love and commitment. Candles are available to buy at Happy Days rental and online at Wrapped in Kindness, with ten per cent of all sales going to charity.
If you’re also partial to a luxe hotel candle (I admit to this!), I recommend The Chancery Hotel’s scent, A Walk in the Woods. If you book its Romantic Retreat package, from €320 per night, the candle is a take home gift in addition to chocolates, Prosecco, breakfast in Fawn restaurant and access to the wellness hub.
10. For perfume lovers: Gift the delicate new Narciso Rodriguez Eau de Perfume Cristal created by perfumer Natalie Gracia-Cetto, who said, “I want this perfume to honour femininity by illuminating florals and freshness with a musky, woody sensuality.” It costs €61 for 30ml at counters nationwide.
11. For make-up lovers: Charlotte Tilbury in Brown Thomas has a make-up masterclass on February 13 as preparation for a romantic date, priced at €55, redeemable against purchase. Another fantastic gift is the new Charlotte Tilbury facial in Planet Beauty, €95, also redeemable against purchase. Follow @ctqueensofglow for more information.
SEE MORE: Stays, Spa Visits & Special Screenings For Valentine’s Day