We partnered with The Gloss to find the Best Shops Ireland 2022. We asked The Gloss readers to nominate their favourite shops and together we have a list of over 100 Best Shops. A list of the Best Shops Ireland 2022 celebrates the unique, creative and inspiring independent shops in cities, towns and villages all over the country, from coffee shops to boutiques, bookshops, farm shops and markets.
This is a roundup of the Best Vintage & Antique Shops Ireland 2022. For more Best Shops Ireland 2022 click HERE. Nominations are closed for 2022. We will invite new nominations from January next year. So, if you know a fabulous shop, whether it’s a coffee shop, a flower and plant shop, food shop or market, menswear or womenswear boutique, accessories or beauty shop or a vintage, interiors, lifestyle or antique shop, we want you to share with us!
COBBLERS WARDROBE
4a Sandymount Green, Dublin 4
www.cobblerswardrobe.com
Formerly Hollie Creedon’s grandfather’s shoe repair shop is now home to her pre-loved designer apparel and luxury goods consignment store. Hollie’s keen eye and Cobblers Wardrobe’s reputation means that the stock is constantly changing and that a visit to the shop means there is always something new to discover. Continuing the family tradition, the Cobblers Wardrobe offers the finest quality shoe and bag repair and restoration services.
DEE BROPHY DECORATIVE ANTIQUES
W4B Tougher Business Park, Newhall, Naas
www.deebrophy.com
A passion for finding and rehoming pre-loved objects is what inspires Dee Brophy to continue her antiques business through good and hard times. “My customers feel they are part of the adventure and enjoy the in-house experience to touch and feel and hear about the journey their piece has made,” says Dee who regularly takes her van to European markets, barns, and fairs returning with a van full of timeworn furniture, mirrors, decorative home goods, garden wares and more.
FIND
Unit 1, Sauls Court, Cows Lane, Temple Bar West, Dublin 8
www.findonline.ie
Naomi Hanrahan, works somewhat like a magpie creatively mixing vintage furniture, lighting and objects with a variety of handmade goods at her FIND store in Temple Bar. The result is a wonderfully layered emporium with lots to explore and discover, from the old and the handmade to organic skincare and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. A proponent of sustainability and upcycling, Naomi also has a prop hire service for events, films or shoots.
HOUSE MCGRATH
102 St Patrick Mills, Douglas, Cork
www.housemcgrath.com
A wonderful collection of refurbished antiques and artisanal homeware. Founder Carla McGrath is known for her amazing assortment of antique dressers, repairing, and frequently updating them with a coat of new colour, making them fresh and modern. There is also a complementary selection of tabletop and artisanal home décor goods.
JOY THORPE DECORATIVE ANTIQUES
84 Kilkenny Street, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny
www.joythorpeantiques.com
JOY THORPE DECORATIVE ANTIQUES & INTERIORS in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, is an important destination for antique-lovers drawn by interesting one-of-a-kind pieces (think old haberdashery units, Art Deco club chairs, chaises longues and more), curated by owner Joy Thorpe. “I source all my pieces from antique auctions and flea markets. My favourite places for finding special things, especially kilims and ceramics, are the medinas of Morocco.” Read more
NIALL MULLEN ANTIQUES
57 Francis Street, Dublin
www.niallmullenantiques.com
Renowned antiques dealer, Niall Mullen features a broad range of antiques spanning two centuries from 1770 to 1970. He believes that styles can be mixed to create a personal and individual vision. As the long-established antique dealers on Francis Street shrank their footprint, Niall Mullen Antiques incorporated his neighbour Gallery Zozimus into his store. The two stores live comfortably together in an eclectic mix, all the more interesting for exploring.
ON THE SQUARE EMPORIUM
Unit A2, 17 Heron Road, Belfast
www.onthesquareemporium.com
Jill O’Neill and Justin Lowry joined forces in 2014 combining their two shops, OTSE and ReFound, into a 14,000 square foot treasure trove for the modern vintage hunter. Partners in both life and business they have created ON THE SQUARE EMPORIUM, a vast collection on antiques, vintage, collectables and oddities, for sale and for hire.
SIOPAELLA
29-30 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2
www.siopaella.com
On arrival in Ireland, Canadian native Ella de Guzman remarked on the absence of consignment shops. Seeing an opportunity in the market she set about changing that, opening SIOPAELLA in 2011. The boutique specialises in Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes, finding new owners for 145,000+ items to date.
SPACE OUT SISTER
88 Francis Street, The Liberties, Dublin 8
www.spaceoutsister.com
Prepare to discover vintage, vintage-inspired, and size-inclusive luxury lingerie and loungewear at Space Out Sister. Karen Kiki Forrester, inspired by her love of vintage style and print, started her business as a pop-up from her home in 2013. By 2015 she had moved into a space in The Liberties and hasn’t looked back. The designer lingerie is exclusive in Ireland to Space Out Sister and the vintage pieces are one-of-a-kind.
SWEENEY & SON ANTIQUES
Laurel Cottage, Graigue Beg, Bunclody, Wexford
www.sweeney-sonantiques.com
Based just outside of Bunclody, Co Wexford, Mark Sweeney has being selling antiques since 2009. SWEENEY & SON ANTIQUES source an interesting mix of Vintage interiors, antique, decorative, salvage, and garden décor.
THE GAIETY
Islandeady, Westport, Co Mayo
www.thegaiety.ie
The Gaiety, a former dancehall built in 1938, was repurposed as an antique and vintage store in 2011 by Clodagh O’Connor and Sean McCaughey. Clodagh, a psychotherapist, juggles a psychotherapy practice and The Gaiety (with some heavy lifting from Sean).
THE LAST BOOKSHOP
61 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2
Secondhand bookstore THE LAST BOOKSHOP has been in its current location since 2017. The previous location on Sandford Road, Ranelagh was demolished to make way for a hotel. Behind the red façade, owner Alan Warnock has organized the incredible number of books in neat stacks, reserving the front of the shop for books on Irish interest. A narrow path through books leads to the back door and into a hidden garden that is home to the Cake Café.
THE OLD COURTHOUSE GREYABBEY & COLLECTABLE QUILT COMPANY
2a The Square, Greyabbey, Co Down
www.theoldcourthousegreyabbey.com
French furniture, silverware, textiles, antique giftware, and home décor pieces are housed in the historic OLD COURTHOUSE, one of Greyabbey’s oldest buildings, which lends its name to the store. Proprietor Alison Miley has also amassed an impressive collection of contemporary, antique, and vintage patchwork quilts and textiles for sister business, Collectable Quilt Company.
THE RUSTIC HOUSE
25 Main Street, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow
A bright red, cheery facade welcomes customers into THE RUSTIC HOUSE where a wonderful assortment of naturally patinaed Irish goods await. Notable are the variety of vintage signs, baskets and furniture items. Opened in 2020, The RUSTIC HOUSE is run by owners Kate Gisbourne and Ian Jacobs. With a lifelong passion for antiques and interiors, and coming from backgrounds in the arts and design worlds, Kate and Ian present a curated selection of unique pieces for the home and collector.
THE STORE YARD
Kea-Lew Business & Retail Park, Mountrath Road, Kylekiproe, Portlaoise, Co Laois
www.thestoreyard.ie
Owned by antiques expert and former builder, David Keane, (situated in an otherwise dreary Portlaoise business park) The Store Yard amazes visitors who discover fabulous large-scale salvage pieces, as well as period and retro curios, from taxidermy and chandeliers to vintage fashion and pictures. Keane has a particular interest in Irish vernacular furniture, and antique fireplaces and accessories. The Store Yard also works with architects and interior designers on residential and commercial projects.
THE VICTORIAN COMPANY
Castle Rd, Dundalk, Co. Louth
www.victoriancompany.ie
THE VICTORIAN COMPANY in Dundalk marries old and new effortlessly, with owners Mark and Bróna McDonagh’s talent for combining period pieces, lighting, salvaged flooring and cast-iron radiators with modern furniture and quirky art to the fore. If you are renovating and looking for flooring, radiators, lighting, furniture and garden furniture, bear this store in mind. www.victoriancompany.ie.
TOWNHOUSE WESTPORT
Shop Street, Cahernamart, Westport, Co Mayo
www.townhousewestport.ie
At the TOWNHOUSE WESTPORT, owned by Ally Murphy and Paul McCarthy, you’ll find Irish iconic brands (McNutts, Molloys of Ardara), European furniture, chic tableware, and a great coffee bar!
VITO VINTAGE
Unit 1, Mungret Street, The Milk Market, Limerick
www.vitovintage.ie
A passion for vintage clothing led graduate of Limerick School of Art & Design, Caroline McBrearty to open VITO VINTAGE in Limerick’s historic Milk Market in 2018. She has a penchant for the bold prints and patterns of the 70s and 80s, as evident in her collection of maxi dresses and vintage silk kimonos and blouses.
WILSON’S YARD
123 Hillsborough Road, Dromore, Co Down
www.wilsonsyard.com
Restoring an old property and want to find one-off pieces? WILSON’S YARD in Dromore, Co Down, should be your first port of call. The family-run business is regarded as one of Ireland’s and the UK’s best architectural salvage and design businesses. “We are also one of the largest suppliers of reclaimed wooden and classical wood flooring in the country, particularly for lovely old parquet or reclaimed plank flooring,” says owner Nigel Wilson.
