When looking in the city for some crochet materials, I stumbled across this little shop. Here, in…read moreaddition to the knit clothing that they're more known for, I found some fairly inexpensive 100% wool yarn (€5 for 50g, €10 for 100g skeins). I gladly bought two 50g skeins of two of the beautiful color options and a wooden crochet hook. When I run out of yarn while still in Galway I know where to go back to!

A shop that values the tradition and roots of Irish clothing and textiles. We searched high and low…read morefor a genuine shop with a good selection. The marketing at other chain stores is much better- but the quality at this store is second to none. The store is less than interesting when you walk in, but once you look at the quality and craftsmanship of the sweaters, you quickly realize how genuinely amazing. These sweaters are better than any I've found in years of hunting. The labels state which craftsman knit the sweater and Anne (the owner) will gladly recount stories of each family and knitter. Anne values the history and integrity of each piece and this was of the utmost importance to me. She was willing to have custom pieces made to order as well, which might be valuable to some. I truly think this spot is the best in Ireland.

super cute store filled with new + vintage clothing. prices were affordable and the collection was…read morediverse. happy to have discovered them on yelp before heading oversees. LOVE my new technicolor sweater. also, the owners mother was super sweet.

Couldn't help myself from repeatedly stopping in this store. So many cozy and beautiful sweaters,…read morehats, blankets, slippers...you name it. I dare you you to walk in and *not* buy something! Staff is super knowledgeable and helpful too. No dressing rooms so just try on in the store and find a mirror! Sale items can be found in the very back.

Love this store! Real Irish wool products labeled and certified. I actually bought a few items,…read morewent across to their sister store across the way called Weavers of Ireland to purchase a beautiful coat received a coupon, and made my way back to Aran for more items : D lol This particular store was 2 floors and had everything from wool scarves, hats, women's clothing, men's clothing, kids clothing, and blankets! You'll find various forms of wool, blends, cashmere... make sure to ask an employee for more information. I ended up purchasing real Irish wool scarves (slightly itchy), softest wool scarf, and a wool sheep toy. The items smelled like a farm lol, but the best way to discard the smell was to air them out. After purchase , you're given specific instructions on how to care for your Irish wool products. Note: Get a tax refund at the airport, with any purchase of 75 Euros or more at a merchant store. Ask for the refund document from the cashier.

Gayle and I wandered into the Galway Woolen Market after Dinner at Martine's. I was looking for an…read moreIrish cap and maybe a pair of gloves. The latter turned out to be a dead end as most gloves sold in Ireland are one size and I have big hands. But they did stock an XL Irish cap that fit my big Size 8 head and in a color and style that Gayle was quite pleased. I ended up wearing it throughout the trip and now back home. The brand was Hatman of Ireland, a family run business in Galway. It's made of Donegal Tweed and it looks fabulous!

The display in the windows of this shop is always beautiful so I was very tempted to call in and…read morelook around. It's a very small boutique but you don't feel pressured in there, which I appreciate. The place is also very nicely laid out and you can actually move the items on the rack and look at each one. It's organised into colours which is good if you're looking for a debs or bridesmaid dress in a particular colour. There are some really beautiful, dramatic, sequined dresses but there are also some nice muted evening dresses for events. I didn't find anything on this occasion but there were loads of nice options so if you have a wedding or races etc. to attend, definitely pop in here for a look.

If you live in the Galway area and are looking for that exclusive outfit, super dressy or super…read morecasual, look no further than the best exclusive boutique in the West - Design House Barna - at least in my humble opinion! I came across Design House Barna a few years ago while on a weekend visit to Galway and have made it my business to go there whenever I visit that lovely area. But imagine my delight when I discovered last week that Design House Barna has opened a second glorious shop in Oranmore! This is just a brilliant location as it means I can now drop into Oranmore on my way down to Galway city instead of having to drive further out west to Barna. I was in Galway last Thursday and discovered to my absolute delight that the Oranmore shop was actually having an official opening that very day and even better every customer got 20% off as well as a fabulous free gift, plus champagne, chocolates, manicures and all sorts of goodies! The clothes stocked in this amazing shop are luxurious and fabulous - I'm talking the very best of cashmere, fine wools etc - but at very affordable prices - and lots of Irish designers. You will rarely find such an exclusive collection in any other boutique and you will certainly get that one-off item here that you will not find anywhere else. In fact, you can get dressed head to toe here, as they have lovely winter boots and scarves at the moment, not to mention the selection of warm coats and jackets. But what constantly impresses me most of all, and the reason for my 5 star rating, is the fantastic personal attention to each and every customer without pushing you into buying an item. The staff are the friendliest and most helpful I have ever come across. The owner, Regina, seems to give extra special attention to her customers., and from my experience, gives regular discounts to repeat customers - what a wonderful reward for loyalty in these times of 'tight pursed' shoppers - no wonder they have opened a second store - it's not just the wonderful and amazing clothes that makes Design House Barna extra special!

As ever, Top Shop generally meets - and often instigates - the demands of a greedily consumerist…read morehigh street. Everything you see in here is exactly what everyone is wearing, mostly because they all got it from Top Shop - this makes it equally valuable as a bank of idea that you can take to Dunnes or Penny's and improve upon with some originality for half the price. Beware of Galway stores, stock is old and most of this stuff was being worn out in Dublin about two months ago.