Here are brief guidelines to help you buy jewelry online. Follow these steps, and you will be much more likely to get quality gems from a reputable dealer at an affordable price.

#1 — Begin with the end in mind
Before you even start looking, write down your “parameters.” Who are you shopping for? How much money do you have to spend? What is the jewelry for (e.g. an Irish wedding gift)? Do you need it personalized? Set your vision for what you want to get and what you want to spend before you begin browsing options. This will keep you focused and protect your pocketbook.

#2 — Open your mind to different styles

You may have your heart set on a traditional Claddagh ring for your honey. And while you may ultimately choose this option, don’t be afraid to explore necklaces, pendants, and charms. Often, our best jewelry decisions are spontaneous. The magic of a Celtic bracelet may sweep you away, for instance. As long as you stay within your price range, let your imagination run wild.

#3 — Understand the piece before buying it

Knowing an item’s mythology and history makes you appear more thoughtful as a gift giver and protects you against making bad buying choices.

#4 — Only do business with reputable dealers

This should go without saying. But it can be all too easy — when you’re buying jewelry online and bargain-hunting — to wind up at a less-than-reputable site. Make sure your online dealer boasts a solid reputation, has a safe and secure purchasing system, and has good customer reviews. Read over terms of the purchase agreement, and understand how and when your item will ship to avoid an awkward situation where you have to explain to your giftee that “sorry for the delay, but your gift will be here soon… probably.”

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Here’s a quick primer on some of the more popular styles and designs of modern Irish jewelry.

Claddagh ring — The Claddagh design symbolizes loyalty, friendship, and love with its telltale Celtic knot. It is often used as a wedding ring. It features two hands holding a heart. Although Claddagh rings are commonly exchanged in Irish weddings today, this custom is actually relatively recent, according to leading historians.

Celtic Cross — This design — which is essentially a traditional Christian cross “gone Celtic” –dates back at least to the 500s if not earlier. In medieval times, the Celtic Cross served to commemorate public buildings and churches. Today, its design is used often in jewelry as well as in “workaday” items such as tattoos and T-shirts.

Other Celtic knots — Telltale Irish interlacing patterns — which have actually been around since Roman times, according to anthropologists — adorn many modern Irish jewelry pieces, such as necklaces, bands, and pendants. Motifs used in Irish art vary wildly. You can find spirals, woven bands known as plaits, and an endlessly bewildering array of other patterns.

Trinity knot — A simple woven knot that represents the holy trinity of Christianity. It symbolizes faith, love and commitment.

Shamrock — The shamrock is a traditional Irish clover symbol that is said to confer luck, love, and friendship on the wearer. Note that the shamrock design is a three-leaf clover (as opposed to the iconic four-leaf clover so often associated with Irish good luck in popular culture.)

Steven Forsyth – Celtic Rings Ltd

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Ireland is a fisherman’s (or fisherwoman’s) paradise. Blessed with a mild climate and diverse waters, Ireland attracts a wide variety of fishing aficionados of all skill levels from near and far. In fresh water lakes and rivers you’ll find carp, trout, salmon, char and pike. In the salty waters of the sea flounder, bass, ray, turbot, pollack, cod, skate and shark among other species can be found. The best places to fish in Ireland depend on what type of fishing you want to do. Here are some you should consider:

Coarse fishing
Fishing for freshwater fish other than game fish. The best places for this type of fishing are in rivers and lakes in the Shannon and Erne systems. Clare Lakelands and the River Bann are also popular spots though somewhat smaller. Lough Neagh, Muckno and Ballyhoe Lake are also good coarse fishing locations. Coarse fishing is free in most places throughout Ireland.

Game fishing
Fishing for sport, most commonly salmon and trout. There are many places for anglers to try their hand at game fishing in Ireland. Salmon are plentiful in the Drowes, Foyle, Munster Blackwater, Laune, Erriff, Moy, and Finn river systems. Trout fishing is common in the Lough Inagh, the River Bandon, the River Boyne, the Moy and Erne Estuaries and Lough Currane. Fly fishing is the most common method of catching game fish in Ireland.

Pike fishing
Fishing season for pike in Ireland is year round and pike fishing has become very popular around the country. The big lakes, called Loughs in Ireland, boast large numbers of pike. These include Erne, Derravarragh, Ree and Derg. The rivers Shannon, Erne, Suck, Barrow, Inny and Bann are also excellent spots for pike fishing.

Sea fishing
The seas that surround the Emerald Isle offer a diverse variety of saltwater fish for sea anglers to catch. A number of port towns offer charter vessels to fish the deeper waters including Kilmore Quay, Cork Harbour, Kinsale, Westport, Portrush, Portstewart and Ballycastle. Some towns cater specifically to fishing sunken wrecks including Courtmacsherry, Schull, Castletownbere, Downings and Culdaff. Those looking to fish close to the shore should visit the south west peninsulas of Beara, Iveragh and Dingle.

Steven Forsyth – Celtic Rings Ltd

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