Guide to Dublin [Good buys]

Good Buys

Antiques : Everywhere you go you will come across antique shops and stalls, and one of the most famous 'antique highways' is Francis Street (Dublin 7). This has many fine art and antique stores, but you stand more chance of a bargain in Bachelors Walk and Ormond Quay on the Liffey.

Art : There are some excellent private art galleries in Dublin, many specialising in the work of contemporary Irish artists. The Oriel Gallery in Clare Street (next store to Green & Co. bookshop)has many fine works, particularly from the 20th century, while the Temple Bar Gallery in Temple Bar exhibits the work of up to 40 resident artists. The Solomon Gallery (Powerscourt Townhouse) displays the work of contemporary Irish artists.

Books : Dublin has many fine bookshops, both of the general and specialist, new and second-hand types. Some of the best include Waterstones and Hodges Figgis (of Ulysses fame), on Dawson Street, both of which have sections in Irish interest, and the Dublin Bookshop in Grafton Street. Fred Hanna in Nassau Street sells new and second-hand books, posters and old postcards, and International Books, on South Frederick Street specialises in languages. If you're interested in antiquarian books, go to Catch Books in Duke Street.

The Irish Film Centre in Estate Street houses a bookshop devoted to all thing cinematic and televisual, and in Temple Bar are George Webb's Bookshop (Crampton Quay) and Cathair Books (Essex Gate). Greene & Co. in Clare Street has new and second-hand books; Eason's on Lower O'Connell Street is a huge general bookshop with a large periodicals and international press section. The Winding Stair on Ormond Quay is a popular, labyrinthine second-hand bookshop with a cafe.

Chocolates: Exquisite Belgian hand-made chocolates are on sale in the Royal Hibernian Way and in Mary Street: their Irish equivalents are at Butlers Irish Chocolates in Grafton Street.

Crafts: The Irish Craft Council Gallery at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is a wonderful introduction to contemporary Irish crafts.

Crystal: Waterford, Cavan, Galway, Tipperary and Tyrone Crystal can be found at House of Ireland - just choose your favourite design.

Food: Dunnes Stores (Ilac Centre) sell Irish smoked salmon (ask for the wild, not farmed variety), and you might also try McConnell & Nelson in Royal Hibernian Way, who will post salmon overseas. Mother Redcap's Market has a treasure in The Gallic Kitchen, and the Bretzel Bakery (Lennox Street, Portobello) is a superb kosher bakery with delicious bagels.

Footwear: Try the Natural Shoe Store in Drury Street and Tutty's (Powerscourt Townhouse), who make exclusive made-to-measure shoes. Grafton Street also has a good concentration of shoe shops.

Knitwear: House of Ireland have a wide range of Aran Knitwear as well as a selection of fine lambswool and cashmere sweaters.