Ireland's Romantic Treasures
Written by Gemma on Jan 19, 2026 | 0 Comments
Ireland may not be the first place you think of when you hear the word romance! Though, if you know what hidden treasures to look for, you quickly realize that Ireland is a VERY romantic place.
A place of spectacular scenery, fairytale castles, epic love stories, fine words, beautiful art, music to set your pulse racing, and of course, romantic jewelry! Read on to find out about the seven Irish treasures we think make our beautiful island the G.O.A.T. for romance.
1) Our Language: Irish has many ways to say I love you!
With one of the more traditional ways to ask someone to marry you in Ireland being a decidedly practical, "Would you like to be buried with my people?", you might be forgiven for thinking that Ireland is not a place for whispering sweet nothings!
But you would be dead wrong! With at least seven different ways to tell a loved one how you feel, Irish - Gaeilge - or Gaelic, really is the best language for “fine words.” Whether you are telling someone they are your soul friend - your “Anam Cara” - or you are making a promise of love forever - “Grá Go Deo” - Irish has you covered!
And if you are not quite up to conversational level in Irish yet, you can always choose something from our Gaelic collection, featuring many of these romantic sentiments to do the talking for you! They say actions speak louder than words, right?
2) Our Poets
If the Irish language doesn’t quite capture how you feel, the words of one of our greatest poets might work instead? The famous W.B. Yeats poem, Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven is a favorite of romantics everywhere:
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths,
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would lay them under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
3)Romantic Irish Stories and Scenery
Farther back in our literary history, there are epic love stories like those of Niamh and Oisín, Emer and Cuchulainn, and Dhiarmada and Gráinne, to rival Romeo and Juliet.
Lovers from two different worlds, Niamh and Oisín, traveling to Tir na Nog
Photo Credit: Stephen Ried (1910) Public Domain.
Lover's Beds
These tales of love have left their mark on the spectacular Irish landscape, with romantic place names scattered across the island. Dolmens are known to many in Ireland as ‘Leaba Diarmuid agus Gráinne’ - The Bed of Diarmuid and Gráinne - or 'the bed of the lovers', owing to the tale of how this doomed couple hid from those that would see them apart, sleeping at a different dolmen built by Diarmuid for his love Gráinne each night. To this day, these sites all over Ireland are visited by couples in love.
The Poulnabrone Dolmen in Co. Clare, known to many as the bed of the lovers or the "Leaba Diarmuid agus Gráinne"
Photo Credit: David Hegarty (CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Hole Stones
There are other stone monuments scattered around the island that are said to possess romantic powers! Holed stones like the one in Doagh in Co. Antrim are places that are said to cement lasting bonds.
Couples in love have exchanged vows and grasped hands through the hole in the standing stone at Doagh for centuries, and possibly even thousands of years! To this day, this site, and several of the other 40 or so known holestones around Ireland, are spots where couples in love hold hand-fasting and marriage ceremonies, renew vows, or get engaged.
The Doagh Holestone in Co. Antrim. A standing stone hidden by gorse on a rocky outcrop and thought to be 4000 years old.
Photo Credit: Phillip Hay (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
We know this to be true because we are lucky to meet and work with many lovely couples who have done it! Liz, hailing from Virginia, USA, and her now-husband Eoin got engaged at one such holestone. The happy couple were visiting Ireland when Eoin proposed using a holestone, which also happened to be an Ogham stone, engraved with the linear ancient Irish alphabet. The happy couple gave a neat ending to this romantic story when Eoin chose an ogham ring as his wedding band.
Photo Credit: Liz Arthur
Literary Love
Just a short train ride from Dublin city center, Howth is a popular spot for couples in love, and you can be sure there have been many a proposal staged here since. We have again had the great privilege to work with a few romantic couples who did just that.
Photo Credit: Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash
Howth Head, jutting out on the north coast of Dublin, is another romantic spot made famous by Irish literature. The soliloquy from Molly Bloom, which closes James Joyce’s masterpiece Ulysses, recounts Leopold’s marriage proposal at Howth, as well as her passionate response: “...and his heart was going like mad, and yes I said yes I will Yes.”
This is the same place where it’s said a young Yeats (yes, that one!) wooed the firebrand Maud Gonne. There have been countless passionate proposals made there before Joyce and we know for a fact there have been many since too! A very romantic spot indeed.
A happy couple we had the good fortune to work with who got engaged in Howth in 2025.
4) Romantic Irish music to set the pulse racing
Of course the romantic storytelling doesn't stop at the page here in Ireland. Irish music is full of love stories, too! In many of these songs and ballads, it doesn't end well for the lovers. We had to look hard for one with a happy ending, expertly performed by Paul Brady and Andy Irvine below.
Those looking for a more contemporary tracklist for their romantic Irish playlist might search out "With or Without You" by U2, "Nothing Compares 2 U" sung by Sinead O'Connor, "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison, "Undertow" by Lisa Hannigan, or "The Work Song" by Hozier.
5) Romantic Irish Art
It is back to the page again for our next romantic treasure, this time through the medium of paint. Housed in the National Gallery of Ireland. "Meeting on a Turret Stair" was lavishly painted by the Irish artist Frederic William Burton in 1864, and depicts two lovers, Hellelil and Hildebrand, just before their story ends in tragedy. We are not sure what this says about us as a nation, but this poignant scene was voted, by some margin, the Irish public's favorite painting in a nationwide vote.
Meeting on a Turret Stair" by Frederic William Burton, 1864.
Photo Credit: National Gallery of Ireland.
6) Ireland Holds the Heart of St. Valentine!
For all our spectacular landscapes and artworks, the most romantic spot in Ireland might be hidden in Dublin's city center, in Whitefriar Street Church. Here, lovers seek out a small shrine housing a box that holds some remains of St Valentine! On his feast day every February 14th, couples can receive a special “blessing of the rings” under the gaze of a statue of the patron saint of love.
More about how St. Valentine came to Dublin
7) Irish Jewelry: Deeply Meaningful Symbols of Love
If you don’t feel confident whispering sweet nothings as Gaeilge, reciting romantic Irish poetry, and a trip to our spectacular land isn't on the cards this year, romantic Ireland is still yours to give with a gift of our beautiful and deeply meaningful Irish jewelry.
There are so many unique designs to suit every taste. Below are three favorites for Valentine's, or any time a romantic gesture is required.
The Celtic Love Knot
The Celtic Love Knot, also known as the Trinity Knot, speaks of eternal love, and is a romantic choice for jewelry that makes a statement. With each of the three "leaves" representing the past, present, and future you share, the unbroken nature of the knot is a beautiful symbol of unity and connection that is hard to beat.
The Claddagh
The Claddagh is a 400 year old design unique to Ireland with romantic sentiment perfect for Valentines Day, or any day. An Irish promise of Love, Loyalty and Friendship for your special someone. Initially gifted to a man by his wife to be, the Claddagh is now one of our most popular designs for friendship, promise, wedding or engagement rings.
Ogham
Harking back to the holed stones with Ogham engravings, a piece of jewelry hand-engraved with a "secret" message that can stay just between two lovers is a truly romantic Valentine's gift.
So is Ireland the Home of Romance?
We think the seven treasures outlined above make a strong case for Ireland being the home of romance. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
And of course, if you need help looking for a romantic Irish gift for your sweetheart, check out our guide below, send us an email, or give us a call. We would be happy to help. It's our honor and privilege to be involved in so many beautiful love stories around the world.
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Gemma
My Irish Jeweler
Gemma is our head jeweler. She is very passionate about jewelry and watches. Her favorite style is Tree of Life "because family and roots are so important to me".
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