Spoil your mam this Mother's Day

Afternoon tea at Lough Eske Castle

Treat your mum to afternoon tea in one of Ireland’s most luxurious castle hotels in the beautiful county of Donegal. Lough Eske Castle is a site of history and nature. The restored castle with its four-storey tower is surrounded by forest woodland and hugs the water’s edge of Lough Eske. Afternoon tea here is served daily in the lobby lounge or one of the drawing rooms. Guests can select from a range of tea infusions, including black and white teas and fruit and herbal infusions and enjoy savoury sandwiches combining classic flavours like smoked salmon and cream cheese and mature cheddar cheese and Ballymaloe relish. The sweet tier includes plain and mixed fruit scones served with clotted cream and jam, along with fruity desserts, like lemon, poppyseed and blueberry cake and strawberry eton mess.

Day out at Bord Bia Bloom

Give your mum something to look forward to – a day out at Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s biggest festival of gardening and horticulture. Set in the beautiful and vast surroundings of Phoenix Park in Dublin from 29 May to 2 June, Bloom is full of things to enjoy. There are show gardens and vibrant floral displays to take in, as well as plenty of live talks from nature and gardening experts to draw inspiration from. Bloom is not only about horticulture and learning to make the most of your outdoor space, it is also a food and drink experience. You can attend cooking demonstrations from chefs like Neven Maguire, as well as explore the Food Village, where you can sample the best of Ireland's top food and non-alcoholic drink producers. It’s a great day out for your mum and there is always a lively atmosphere with music, entertainment and an Irish craft village selling local products and designs.

Forever Blossom

If you are looking for something that can be cherished all year around, a painting to evoke memories this Mother’s Day is a thoughtful present that lasts. It can also brighten up your interior spaces coming into summer. Living in East Antrim, artist Sharon Millar, captures the beauty of nature and landscapes in Ireland through bold colour and textured brush strokes. Forever Blossom is a painting that depicts Sharon's garden in full bloom with a friendly robin hidden in the foliage, and the essence of the piece is to reawaken memories of a summers day. "I want the viewer to have a sense of joy, evoking memories of better weather just around the corner on a cold grey day," says Sharon.

Hydrate & Bloom Ritual Set

Tipperary brand, Nunaïa, is born from founder Nicola Connolly’s experiences of working with local communities on the Galapagos Islands, the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Andes Mountains of Peru. Nicola’s products are crafted with nutrient-dense botanicals from the Peruvian Rainforest and Andes Mountains to nourish skin health and help to restore calm and balance. This Hydrate and Bloom Ritual Set contains the new Earth Blossom cream which targets fine lines and is a deep moisturiser, the award-winning Nourishing Radiance Serum to hydrate the skin and the signature Nunaïa Ritual Guide which has three steps – to ground yourself, nurture the skin and restore radiance. The products are designed to introduce a moment of calm into your day, they have a floral scent and are suitable for all skin types. Everything is packaged in a 100% compostable box grown from mushrooms with mycelium technology.

Mother's day socks

You’ll know Irish Socksciety for its block colours, funny illustrations and bold designs. The business, founded by Alex Kieldanowicz and Joanna Ciezka, is a celebration of Irish culture and humour. Based in Galway, every pair of socks (all made from certified OEKO TEX cotton) has something to say and they bring a pop of personality to the most ordinary of outfits. These Mother’s Day socks are no exception. They have spoons all over them, a playful nod to the generation that can remember their mum holding up a wooden spoon. The pink colour makes a statement from head to toe, and the line "The Best Mammy" is written on both of the soles.

Dried flower vase

We often think of fresh flowers for Mother’s Day, but dried flowers have become more and more popular in recent years. Dried flowers have their own charm, subtlety and can be changed throughout the seasons This solid ash vase is perfect for the earthy tones of dried flowers and is made by EDP Creative in Co Laois, a one-person design, making and creative studios created and run by Ed Pecherek. It is a handmade wood-turned vase, perfect for dried flowers or as a standalone decorative piece. The solid shape lends a contemporary feel, and the slight grainy pattern feels unique. Available to order from Wrapped in Kindness, the online Irish gift and design shop ran by Julie Gaffney in Co Waterford. 10% of your total order value will be donated to an Irish charity of your choice.

MindFull Mug

Ceramic artist, Cora Cummins, individually makes, carves and paints her ceramics in small batches in west Waterford. Her bestselling MindFull mugs were born out of losing her son in 2011, and working with clay was a way for her to find healing. Through her ceramics, Cora wanted to share with others what it felt like to experience the grounding feeling of soft clay, and speaking about her journey has also helped other parents navigate bereavement. Cora’s MindFull mug, as part of her spring/summer collection, is painted with soft reds and pinks and studded with delicate dots and love hearts. “Being 'Mindful' with a 'Mind Full' is not easy, but by incorporating this short 'time for you' ritual into your daily life takes the hard work out of it,” says Cora.

Writing set

Pawpear, a play on the Irish for paper (“páipéar”) appreciates the power of a handwritten thought, what founder Kim Whyte describes as "a rebellion against the ‘send’ button. The cards, prints and stationary sets designed by Pawpear are all inspired by Ireland’s beautiful landscape, flora and history. Messages on the cards are printed in the Irish language with English translation. Pawpear works with Irish suppliers, printers and binders and their paper is sourced from sustainably managed forests. This writing set is inspired by Ireland’s rugged coastline and sea, including 25 sheets of A5 writing paper with 15 envelopes. Prints feature colourful depictions of Irish seascapes, including Keem Bay, Trawnamoe, Baltimore, Skerries and the Dingle Peninsula.

Speciality coffee

If coffee is the fuel that keeps your mum functioning, why not treat her to specialty grade coffee? Located in Bettystown, Co Meath, Studio Coffee Roasters was started by Alan Phillips, a certified member of the European Specialty Coffee Association. Studio Coffee Roasters import coffee from 14 countries, mostly small farms in Africa, Central America and South America. The award-winning Great Taste Trio includes three particular lots of coffee. First, coffee from a farm called Bosque Lya in the Apaneca Mountain range of western El Salvador with tasting notes of cherry and lime with caramel and hazelnut butter with milk chocolate. Second, coffee from Ethiopa with floral and sweet tasting notes. Third, coffee picked at the peak of harvest from Mpanga Farm in Northern Burundi with notes that are delicate in character – floral, jasmine, rose and orange blossom.

Jewellery making workshop

Claddagh jewellery is becoming more and more popular, an Irish symbol of love, friendship and loyalty. If your mum has an interest in unique and handmade jewellery, why not go the extra mile and create a ring together? Celtic Coastal Creations is a Kerry business specialising in small workshops that immerse you in the art of jewellery-making, blending traditional techniques with modern design. Owned by local couple, Josie Harty and Tim Grace, the workshops teach people the traditional techniques of metalworking, from shaping and cutting to polishing, and a bit of history about Celtic jewellery and heritage thrown in. There is no experience needed for their ring making workshop, as local artisans guide you every step of the way. The best part is that you get to take home a beautifully handcrafted piece of Irish jewellery made by yours truly.

The Hot Tub Boat

If you’re looking for something special this Mother’s Day (aka: spoil your mum rotten), the Hot Tub Boat might be what you’re looking for. This is Ireland’s only hot tub boat, Afterglow, which cruises Lough Ree, Co Athlone with its captain Shane McCormack at the helm. Shane has been working on the River Shannon for more than 20 years and is a volunteer with RNLI. There are five different collection points in the surrounding area for you to hop on and each cruise lasts for 90 minutes. The hot tub can cater for up to six passengers and is fully equipped with a sound system for blasting your tunes of choice. It’s BYOB, with coolers provided onboard. Afterglow is most famous for its sunset cruises, treating passengers to dreamy candy cotton clouds and glowing amber skies, and at this time of year, even close-up views of starling murmurations – if you’re lucky.

Mother-daughter spa day

Sometimes the best gift we can give is our time. For those looking to spend quality time, the g Hotel & Spa in Co Galway has revealed an exclusive Mother and Daughter Package. This is Galway’s only five star spa, spread over two floors. The package includes a 55-minute spa treatment of your choice delivered by trained ESPA experts and one hour complimentary access to the thermal suite, including a vitality hydro pool, soothing crystal steam room, lifestyle rain showers and a rock sauna. The package also includes access to the relaxation room, a complimentary ESPA gift, and a glass of Prosecco. The package is available from Monday to Friday and is subject to availability.

Self-care package

Baileys Chocolate meets Jo Browne in a limited edition offer for mams across the country. For Mother’s Day 2025, anyone ordering from Jo Browne’s award-winning selection of body care, skincare and homeware products will receive a complimentary gift of Baileys Chocolate Truffles along with their order. It makes for a combination that is all about indulgence and treating your mam. The Baileys Chocolate Collection, which is designed by the team at Lir Chocolates in Navan, Co Meath, has a range of flavours available to suit every mother’s palette, including strawberry and cream. Jo Browne, best known for its award-winning facial cleansing balms and solid perfumes, also has a fine selection of skincare and body care to choose from. Depending on your budget, you could opt for a single product, like the Facial Serum (€38) to promote skin collagen and anti-ageing or the luxury Night Time Body Oil (€28) or instead wow your mum with one of Jo Browne’s gift sets.