Five reasons why Ireland is the Home of Romance
Written by Gemma on Jan 20, 2025 | 0 Comments
When you hear the word romance Paris or Venice might spring to mind. We think Ireland deserves a place at the top of the romance stakes. Ireland is a place of spectacular scenery, epic love stories, fine words, beautiful poetry, and of course, romantic jewellery! Read on to find out the five reasons we think Ireland deserves to be known as the home of romance.
1) Ireland has many ways to say I love you
With at least seven different ways to tell a loved one how you feel, Irish, also known as Gaeilge, Gaelic, really is the best language for “fine words.” Whether you are telling someone they are your soul mate, your “Anam Cara”, or that they are the bright love of your heart “Grá Geal Mo Chroí,” Irish has you covered!
2) Romance from Ireland’s great 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 favourite 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 that of Niamh and Oisín, or Emer and Cuchulainn, or 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 left traces on the spectacular Irish landscape, with romantic place names scattering 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 hold romantic powers themselves! Holed stones like the one in Doagh in Co. Antrim, are places that are said to cement lasting bonds. Couples in love have exchange vows and grasped hands through the hole in the standing stone at Doagh for centuries and possibly 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 that 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 an holestone, which also happened to be Ogham stone, engraved with the linear ancient Irish alphabet. The happy couple gave a neat end to this romantic story when Eoin decided on an ogham ring as his wedding band.
Photo Credit: Liz Arthur
Literary love
Just a short train ride from Dublin city centre, Howth is a popular spot for couples in love and you can be sure there has been many a proposal staged here since.
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.”
There were no doubt countless passionate proposals made there before Joyce and we know for a fact there have been many since too! A very romantic spot indeed.
4) Ireland holds the heart of St. Valentine
For all our spectacular landscapes, the most romantic spot of all might be in the city centre in Dublin’s Whitefriar Street Church, where lovers can seek out a small shrine housing the 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
5) Irish Jewellery; deeply meaningful symbols of love
If you don’t feel confident whispering sweet nothings as Gaeilge, or reciting romantic Irish poetry, and at 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 jewellery. There are so many unique designs to suit every taste. Below are three favourites for Valentine's or any time a romantic gift 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 jewellery 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 jewellery hand engraved with a "secret" message that can stay just between two lovers is a truly romantic Valentine's gift.
Is Ireland the Home of Romance?
So are you convinced? We think we've made 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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