A mini gift guide for Father's Day

Next week, we will be celebrating fathers, daddies, dads, pops etc with a card and a gift.

Mr T believes that Father’s Day is just a marketing campaign by some card manufacturer but it is indeed a day based on a private initiative by Sonora Smart Dodd - this is the widely accepted version - who listened to a Mother’s Day sermon in a church and thinking there should be one for fathers as well.

Saying that, it seems that Saint Joseph’s Day was the equivalent of Father’s Day in the Middle Ages in Catholic countries.

In Germany, Father’s Day is celebrated on Ascension Day which makes it a public holiday (while Mother’s Day is always on a Sunday – the feminist in me always had a problem with that). My dad didn’t care much for the day other than that the pubs were still open and dads of all ages descended (see what I did here) to beer gardens and pubs and weren’t’ seen for the rest of the day.

I always found it hard to find a gift for my dad. It shouldn’t be as big as a birthday or Christmas present, but it should still bring joy.

So, it was mostly sweets and beer.

This year, I think dads deserve a real treat (as we all do) and here are some great ideas to make your dad smile this Father’s Day.

The Greencrocer’s Daughter offers a Father’s Day hamper filled to the brim with a Powerscourt tasting kit, a hip flask, chocolates, peanuts and more. The hamper is available for €75 from greencrocersdaughter.com or call 01-4663005.

Staying with whiskey, Black’s Distillery in Kinsale has just launched a new whiskey. It’s an 18 year old single malt that has been finished in rum casks. This is a very limited edition of only 563 bottles (the price tags suggests as much) and whiskey lovers might enjoy this whisky all alone, savouring each sip. Pop over to Black’s shop. Even if you don’t buy this particular whiskey, the brewers/distillery has loads of other options available. See blacksbrewery.com/shop.

A cocktail club membership from Norwegian Cocktail Club might also be a good idea (especially when you can benefit from this gift as well). Signing up to the club is free and you get access to a whole bunch of recipes and tutorials. The Q-Kit is for serious cocktail enthusiasts. It includes all tools you could possibly need and with the video recipes, you will see how each tool is being used. Check them out at cocktailclub.com.

For wine loving dads, you might like to subscribe to Box of Wine.

This Irish company was started during the pandemic and has gained a large following already.

You can chose from different options (they have currently a sale on rosé wine). Head over to boxofwine.ie.

If the above options are a bit too boozy for you, why not give your dad a voucher for a nice holiday stay. Irelandhotels.com have currently ‘Go Anywhere’ gift vouchers available that come in a lovely gift box. The group has member hotels in all counties and you can choose the amount (minimum purchase is €50).

Or even better, invite yourself along and make it a super relaxed bonding session. See Irelandhotelsgiftcards.com.

A gift voucher for a lovely meal at one of our wonderful restaurants would also go down nicely. We all can’t wait for the reopening in July. Whatever you decide to give to your dad, a hug and I love you might be the best gift you can give.