Product Review: Éire's Kids gifts and souvenirs

Éire’s Kids is a range of gifts and souvenirs for boys and girls from aged 3 to 10. The inspiration for this company came when husband and wife, Derek Mulveen and Michelle Melville, failed to find Irish themed souvenirs and gifts while on a ‘Staycation’ in Ireland with their children. Having spotted the gap in the market they launched the company in July 2012.

We liked the company because there are so few Irish themed gifts on the market. It is great to have a toy or book that Irish kids can identify with. The products are also manufactured in Ireland, not something that is easy to find.

The Éire’s Kids product range includes: photo frames, clothes hangers, necklaces, zips, mugs, books, birthday cards and postcards. Many of their products are illustrated with branded characters such as ‘Oisín the Brave’, ‘Princess Eire’, ‘Irish Dancer’ and Girl & Boy Hurler. These characters are a breath of fresh air in a toy market saturated with characters which originate in the UK or American. They hark back to more a innocent childhood with no aggressive images for the boys and no over-sexualised characters for the girls.

The couple have also launched a book “Oisín the Brave”(RRP €4.99). This book, and upcoming Éire’s Kids books,have an Irish learning element, making it easy for children to learn 'cupla focal as Gaeilge' in a fun way, outside the school environment.

The products are very affordable, much of the range being priced between €5 to €10. Owner Derek comments ‘’keeping in mind children’s pocket money and parents’ purse strings during the current climate, our company seeks to let you spend small but give big’’.

What really appealed to us about Éire’s Kids products was the ease at which you can order the products online. In one sitting you can order a stockpile of affordable Irish gifts for school birthday parties, Christmas gifts and Irish themed gifts for friends and family overseas.