Visitors to Ireland for Saint Patrick's Day present opportunities for maunfactuers and retailers.
There is a demand for Irish souvenirs from tourists and not just on St Patrick's Day. Sellers are giving buyers exactly what they want.
Postcards, calendars, and rosary beads are just some of the souvenirs on sale at St Patrick's Cathedral.
The souvenir shop in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin stocks rosary beads even though this is a Church of Ireland cathedral.
Ray La Comber, at Dublin Airport Duty Free, says that the type of gifts and products tourists want has changed. While there are still some sales of leprechauns, shoppers are now looking for more upmarket keepsakes from Ireland. One tourist at the airport is interested in buying traditional textiles such as a cap.
Michael Banks, An Bord Tráchtála, estimates that there is a £15 million expansion going on in the giftware sector. European tourists have less interest in shamrocks and more interest in quality made glassware, linen, jewellery and fashion.
Among the American tourists shopping were those who had bought U2 paraphernalia, mugs, t-shirts, as well as more high-quality Waterford Crystal.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 March 1995. The reporter is Alasdair Jackson.
