More Christmas gift shopping in Kilcullen
Continuing with our rolling feature on keeping your Christmas shopping local, check in below for another update.
It's hardly necessary to mention Nolans at all, so widespread is their fame for providing the best poultry and meats, not to mention the seriously individual deli items. But there's a special emphasis on Christmas with free range turkeys that have people queuing right along the street when it comes to collection. Don't forget either the spiced beef, oak smoked hams and — if you fancy something different on Christmas Day — free range chickens, geese, ducks, pheasants and mallard. For after Christmas, it's when the delicacies come into their own, the home-made sausages, the puddings, rashers, cheeses and smoked salmon. Hampers can also be made to order as presents. Last orders for turkeys will be on this Friday, and closing time on Christmas Eve will be at 4pm.
Don't forget that pets like Christmas too, and there's a range of pet toys and accessories available at the Animals First Veterinary Hospital in the Link Park. You can also consider a new year present to both you and your pet with a new dog training programme being set up. And if you want advice on dealing with issues like weight management (yes, pets overeat too) and nutrition, feel free to call in. Grooming aids are also available.
Downtown in An Tearmann they have a whole new range of select gifts for all ages and both genders, as well as a small but nice range of Christmas cards. Wooden toys and ornaments as a speciality here, while the mobiles made of glass and wood and gentle textiles are always worth a browse. And don't forget the Manna organic shop at the back, where Pauline and Sheedhna will always provide a big welcome.
One of the nicer things about Christmas is sitting at home with family and friends, maybe in front of a real fire, with seasonal snacks and a convivial drink. All you need in wines, beers, sherries and spirits is to hand in CarryOut in Market Square, where Paddy Nugent and family have best value in town to help a quiet celebration of the season.
Kilcullen, of course, has its very own French bakery in Armelle's Kitchen where those with a sweet tooth can satisfy cravings with a unique range of cakes, pastries and other baked treats. For those who want to browse the special Christmas page on Armelle and Kenny's website, here's the link. Boxes of 6 mince pies are also available in Nolans. The shop will be open on Sunday 22nd from 11-3pm, on Monday 23rd 8.30-6pm and Christmas Eve 8.30-4pm. Orders can be made via email, phone or directly in the shop.
Operating as Purity Belle Cliona Kelliher offers a wide range of handmade perfumed candles in an extraordinary variety of containers. Always a welcome present for those who appreciate soothing candlelight and scents. And the latest blog on her website offers useful suggestions on making your own decorations and wrapping paper.
If you want to give somebody a present of a small cake or Christmas pudding, Katrina O'Connell in the River Cafe has her own home-made ones available, already gift wrapped. And she has a full stock of Christmas foody things in now, and will make up hampers of different sizes and prices. Another personal touch in Kilcullen shopping.
As always, the place to shop for flowers and plants for the Christmas season is our own Dave Clancy's on Main Street. For this year he's particularly suggesting bespoke table arrangements, personal bouquets, a range of unusual gift items, and he offers distinctive cards suitable for all occasions. The arrival of this beautiful train in his window, one of his own favourite pieces and definitely not for sale, signals the countdown through the final days to Christmas. If you have a little time, get Dave to tell you how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of Europe, he has some fascinating knowledge on the subject.
Fancy a wander around a really nice shop for Christmas presents and not have any parking problems? Well, Burkes Pharmacy on Hillcrest is just the place, with much more there than you'd maybe expect from a chemist's. Small and soft toys for children, hampers of goodies for men and women made up to order, a Christmas Club where you can pay in instalments, it's all there in a most pleasant ambiance and with lots of room to stroll around. Really recommended.
Well into the swing of the season is the Christmas Shop upstairs at Berneys Chemists. Apart from the expected, there's a very nice upmarket range of Christmas table and window decorations, the kind that never go out of date and are always nice to be seen when this time comes around every year. Best to browse for the ideas yourself, but take a look at the very safe kiddies' microwavable bed warmers.
Kilcullen Art Group also have a display of members' work for sale upstairs in An Tearmann, another excellent opportunity to browse for presents that definitely have a local flavour.
A nice idea for a youngster is to open a Credit Union Savings Account in their name, possibly a lifetime gift if it starts them on the regular savings route that will help them in many situations down life's sometimes financially precarious road. Call in to Pat and she'll sort you out.
Meantime, all the Christmas menus are operating in Kilcullen's various eateries, with really good value offers for small or larger groups who want to hold their pre-Christmas get-togethers. For the size of the town we have an amazing selection of bistros, food pubs and restaurants. Think Fallons (045 481063), Bardons (045 482286), Il Fico (045 482966), Joey's Hideout (045 482761), and Walls of the Priory at Kilgowan (045 403355). Also our coffee shops for those less formal meet-ups, Cafe Coulan, An Tearmann, and the River Cafe. And don't forget that a voucher towards dinner at any of the restaurants makes a very acceptable Christmas present.
The Valu€ Zone is another one of those places where you'll find not just what you're looking for, but also things that you might not be expecting. Meantime, though, seasonal needs like Christmas decorations, cribs, cards, and stocking fillers are just a small part of the good value stacked on the shop's shelves. Think of it too for a wide selection of photo frames, stationery, and those all important batteries. Lots more, go in and browse before you try outside of town.
Rose Doherty's Cottonwood Tree has established itself as a Mecca for everybody interested in sewing, knitting and allied crafts. An Aladdin's Cave of trimmings, buttons, and cloth which brings people, women mostly, from all parts of the county. Rose also stocks a range of items that would make good presents, including novelty mugs with 'I'd rather be in Kilcullen' and similar local wishes to remind their owners every morning how lucky they are to live here. Practical but pretty aprons and oven gloves are also available, as well as natty wooden sewing boxes. And don't forget to leave your name in for reminding of a range of workshops.
Nobody familiar with Kilcullen needs reminding that Ger's Fruit & Veg is arguably the best source of fresh stuff in the mid-Kildare area. And the shop will be offering all sorts of suitable produce through the Christmas season. But there are other goodies there too, including a wide range of traditional sweets, fruit hampers, and some excellent preserves. Lots to pick up for the table and as gifts.
Nancy Poulain won't sell you pets for Christmas, but she does have absolutely every pet accessory imaginable in her Petits Pets Boutique at Lower Main Street. It's a really colourful place to visit at any time, but there are also extras for the festive season, with Christmas stockings for pets, festive wrapping for any of the things you might think of buying for the pet, or the pet-owner, in your circle. There's also grooming, and a voucher for a pet pamper would be very acceptable, especially to a dog owner. There are ideas online too, on her Facebook page, Petits Pets Boutique.
Nichola Kennedy is our popular and knowledgable optometrist, but she can also be consulted for some Christmas present ideas. Gift vouchers to any value required are available, and with no expiry date on them. Also sunglasses, prescription or fashion non-prescription are a popular pressie (especially from the hubbies!) "For those with swimming on their New Year's resolutions list we have prescription swimming goggles in stock and we also stock a range of spectacle care items such as sprays, cloths, cases, chains and cords — all great stocking fillers!!" Also, don't forget that Nichola will gladly take in those old spectacles lying around at home, which will be distributed by the Lions Clubs to people in developing countries who need them.
At Crafty Couture Gail Murphy provides her unique handmade personalised fabric bunting, French Memo Boards, personalised plaques and homemade gifts. Get your order in early, though, as her time to make things is very limited.
Kilcullen mum Niamh Traynor has a limited number of €20 vouchers for her new A Little Massage business, recently established in Neeba in the Whitewater Centre. Just the idea for a prezzie for other hard working mums over Christmas.
Emma O'Herlihy's Have Ewe Any Wool craft business specialises in knitted hats in a number of cheerful designs which are particularly suitable for children. She also has knitted seasonal decorations.
Here are a couple of ideas using gift vouchers that won't break anyone's bank. And they're different.
For instance, how about a gift voucher for three years' membership of Kilcullen Library? At only €6 (€2.50 for unwaged or unemployed), it represents possibly the best value in reading entertainment on the planet. As Gay Byrne used to always say, give somebody the gift of reading and you have given them a gift for life.
Also on the gift voucher list is the Vincents Shop. They're prepared to sell gift vouchers of any value which can be redeemed for anything in their eclectically stocked emporium. It's always a treasure chest worth rummaging in, with only the best of quality pre-owned goods. Talk to Pat, or any of the staff, about a voucher, or also one which you can purchase for somebody which denotes that you have sent a development gift to Africa on their behalf.The Vincents Shop has also been putting by over the year a selection of unwanted gifts which have been donated, and will be holding a special pre-Christmas sale event of these which might just be the right event to get new presents at a good price. Watch this space and we'll let you know when it's on.
(This post will be updated regularly up to Christmas. Any local business or service which wants to suggest a gifts opportunity is welcome to let us know. There's no charge, though if anyone listed wants to make a small donation to their own favourite charity in return, then there will be a double community benefit.)
