PR professional* and lifestyle influencer Rob Kenny shares his annual Valentine's Day gift guide for men.
As February 14 creeps closer, many of you may be left thinking 'what on earth am I going to get him this year?'
Well, worry not, as influencer Rob Kenny has done all of the hard work and research for you, with a particular focus on events and experiences in Ireland that you can book for you and your lucky man.
After all, gifts are always a treat, but often the best Valentine's Day gift is the making of gorgeous memories together.
A night out in Krewe South
Due to the hype, renowned food, and electric party atmosphere of the original Capel Street Krewe restaurant in Dublin, Krewe South opened its doors just before Christmas. Capturing the soul of Southern American hospitality with a modern Irish twist, Krewe South is the ideal venue to bring your fella for mouth-watering Creole cuisine and the best party vibes. Immerse yourself in an ambiance that exudes warmth and personality, providing the perfect backdrop for a romantic yet fun evening together.
Dyson Lightcycle Morph Light Range
Show love for your home and yourself this V-Day, with a self-gift from Dyson's range of award-winning products from vacuums, to air purifiers to the wonderful Dyson Lightcycle Morph light range, which tracks your light throughout the day, providing the right light for your use and is built to make your home better . Available from €549.99 on www.dyson.ie.
The Book of Kells Experience
Take a stunning journey through the history of the iconic Book of Kells and Trinity College Dublin with light projections and illustrations. A perfect date night for the uncertain weather we are currently experiencing. With adult tickets priced at €21.50 you can book tickets for the experience through the Visit Trinity website www.visittrinity.ie
Date night in Brickyard
Nestled in the heart of Dundrum, just beside the Balally Luas stop, Brickyard invites you to celebrate love with a touch of laid-back luxury. Picture warm, rustic interiors that create the perfect backdrop for an evening filled with love and laughter. Definitely my current favourite South Dublin suburbs gastropub. Brickyard has a gorgeous menu and an amazing selection of drinks, notably their craft beers and delectable cocktails*. The staff are renowned locally for being so lovely (and great fun) too, which is often underestimated as one of the key ingredients for a super dinner out together.
Tom Ford Shaving Cream
Retailing for €62, Tom Ford's creamy, rich and cooling shave cream is formulated to help soften your beard for a close, comfortable shave. From using it myself, I find It nourishes and protects your skin from irritation while shaving - with no nasty afterburn. The air-whipped texture and citrus herbal scent invigorates the sensorial experience. It's a true game-changer compared to standard shaving foams.
This can be hard to come by at times but a super alternative is the Acqua di Parma shaving cream. Retailing for £67 for 125gm of product which you can shop directly from their website.
The Black Star Band - David Bowie Tribute at The Sound House
Why not treat the nostalgic music lover in your life to a pair of tickets to The Black Star Band? The tribute band will be playing in The Sound House on February 16, covering up to 50 years of Bowie's music.
"This is a Bowie Tribute Band that plays it because they love it, they play it loud and with heart, it's one for the Bowie fans."
Tickets are available for purchase via www.thesoundhouse.ie from €12.
Voya
For the man in your life who may have trouble sleeping, the Voya lavender and camomile relaxing sleep spray might just be the perfect Valentine's day gift. This beautiful natural formulation is designed to be spritzed onto your pillow before bedtime to help you enjoy a peaceful slumber. Costing just €11 you can shop this and their range of other products at www.voya.ie.
House Dublin & Limerick
This Valentine's Day, toast to love with House's extensive selection of wines, spirits, and signature cocktails. Always popular and bust due to their stellar service and (always) even better decor, you're guaranteed a super night together. Whether you're seated in the stylish bar area or tucked away in a cosy corner with their famous Sunday roast, their attentive staff are dedicated to ensuring your celebration is nothing short of extraordinary.
Movie Night: All Of Us Strangers
For any movie lovers, watching Andrew Haigh's All Of Us Strangers could be the perfect Valentine's Day experience. The haunting love story, starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal is adapted from the 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada. An emotional watch but a perfect excuse for a cinema date this Valentines Day. Yes, it is a heartbreaker, but the underlying story is true love and finding your soulmate.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the Dublin premiere of the movie, where Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott were interviewed live before the movie played, and Andrew Scott broke down about how much the movie means to him. Once you see it, you will understand.
Pub Quiz at The Circular
At only €7.50 per person, The Circular Dublin in Rialto is the perfect place for an Irish pub quiz experience, something we don't do nearly enough. A spacious spot with lots of seating, the quiz is hosted every Wednesday from 7pm-9:30pm. With lots of great food including Coke Lane pizza, the dog friendly venue could be the perfect place for a midweek date night, with a bit of a difference.
Chained Welded Bracelets
'Chained' welded forever bracelets is the latest offering from Ireland's premier tattoo and piercing parlour, Heartbreak Social Club. It is the first welded bracelet company in Ireland, offering seamless (no clasp) forever bracelets that need no maintenance. Priced at €80 per person, they are available in gold and silver. Available to book through their website www.heartbreaksocialclub.ink.
Nioxin
For the men in your life who are enduring their thinning or balding stage and are feeling insecure about it, Nioxin is one of the most highly recommended hair restoration treatments for men (and women) globally. Their products vary from shampoos and conditioners, salon treatments, leave-ins and hair supplements. Combating many issues including hair breakage, thinning and hair loss, you can shop their products directly from their website here: www.nioxin.com. Irish men can be slow to address such problems and suffer in silence, so if your beau is feeling insecure about his hair loss, this may be the gift (and push) he needs to do something about it.
Walking Food Tour
If there is a special foodie in your life, this walking food tour in Dublin might just be the perfect date idea. Learn more about the history of Ireland from your local Dublin-based guide while savouring the bright flavours of Irish cuisine with a walking food tour of Dublin. For just €27.50 a ticket, you can book online at https://walkingfoodtours.ie/.
Kylemore Karting
For the partner with a need for speed, a day out to Kylemore Karting is sure to go down a treat. Based in Kylemore Industrial Estate Dublin 10. For €40 per person you can experience one of their three multi-level tracks in Kylemore Industrial Estate Dublin 10. You can book a time slot through their website www.kylemorecarting.ie for a Valentine's Day date that's sure to be remembered.
Escape Boats
For €40 per person, you can experience Dublin's first ever escape boat. With two different games to choose from, you must work together to solve puzzles, crack codes, uncover mysteries and escape the perils of the Zorg Ella boat. Get yours and your partner's brain cogs turning by booking your date night through their website www.escapeboats.ie.
Ireland's Eye Ferries
Set sail this Valentine's Day with a ferry journey around Ireland's Eye, one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Make a day of it and spend the morning doing the cliff walk and the evening treating yourselves to dinner in one of their famous fish and chip shops. You can book your ferry journey tickets, starting at €15 through their website here www.irelandseyeferries.com.
Little Museum of Dublin
Located on 15 St. Stephens Green, the Little Museum of Dublin is a beautiful Georgian home full of Irish memorabilia. For only €13 you can enjoy an insight to the history of the city over the last 100 years, through one of their brilliant guided tours. You can book tickets through their website www.littlemuseum.com.
Magee 1886
If you have a man in your life who appreciates some of the finer things in life, a gift from Irish luxury fashion house Magee 1886 may just be your golden ticket this Valentine's Day. With an array of amazing pieces that can be treasured for years to come, my top pick would be this navy linen suit. Retailing for €599 this suit is the perfect summer staple. The lightweight linen suit is perfect for any destination weddings you may have coming up this Summer.
The Chocolate Garden in Co. Carlow
Do you or your partner share a sweet tooth? If so, a trip to The Chocolate Garden is sure to please. Just outside Tullow, county Carlow, you can partake in various activities such as chocolate making and afternoon tea. You must book these workshops starting at €12.50 in advance which you can do so through their website www.chocolategarden.ie.
Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Tour
Go behind the scenes with a guided tour of the Tullamore D.E.W distillery. The multi-award winning experience has been praises as the best distillery experience in Ireland by many. Explore the home of Ireland's second best selling whiskey globally.
From distillation to maturation, sip on an Irish coffee and inhale the rich aromas from the 50,000 oak casks that are maturing in the maturation warehouse. Like the whiskey itself, it is the people and local character of Tullamore that make this experience so special. You can book tickets through their website www.tullamoredew.com for €43 per person.
Zadig and Voltaire
If your Valentine is big on fragrance, Zadig & Voltaire 'This is really him!' should make the perfect gift. With a subtle woody accord of Palo Santo complimented by notes of amber, grapefruit and lemon the fragrance retails for €77 for 50ml or €107 for 100ml. The fragrance is available to purchase from Arnotts and pharmacies nationwide.
CABÜ Cabins
A staycation you may immediately recognise from the content of countless an Irish influencer - Cabu Cabins are a luxury cabin getaway resort in Killykeen Forest Park, County Cavan. A weekend away in the resort would be sure to win you some brownie points with your other half this Valentine's Day. A seriously romantic getaway that's a bit different. Starting at €490, this gift is perfect for anytime of the year. You can check availability and book online at www.holidays.cabu.co.uk.
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is labelled as "Ireland's powerhouse of the arts." The art gallery, located at 15 Ely Place in Dublin 2 has free entry which makes it a perfect date idea for anybody looking for a cost effective day date this Valentine's Day. The gallery is open six days a week, running Tuesday-Sunday from 11am (12pm on Sundays) until 5pm. Head into the city centre, grab yourself some coffees and take in all of the beautiful artwork the gallery has to offer.
Awesome Walls
If your someone special is more on the active side, a trip to Awesome Walls in Dublin or Cork will certainly put you in the good books. Awesome Walls is a premium indoor rock climbing centre. With an array of different climbing routes for all skill levels from beginners to experienced climbers, I'm certain it is the perfect gift for that partner with itchy feet. You can book your climbing session through their Dublin or Cork centres through their website www.awesomewalls.ie beginner sessions start at €32 per person.
This Must Be The Place
d your significant other have more of a creative streak, This Must Be the Place in Temple Bar must be the place for you! With a number of workshops such as their Clay & Coffee and Paint With Coffee will certainly meet the mark when it comes to Valentine;s Day dates. Visit their website www.thismustbetheplacedublin.com to check out and book in for one of their amazing workshops this Valentine's Day. Workshops begin at €24.
Dinner at The Green Hen
If you are looking for a romantic date night in the heart of Dublin city centre, The Green Hen might just be the place for you. Somewhere I frequented in the past, I have just rediscovered this true Dublin gem and had one of my best meals in Dublin in years. Indulge in a romantic rendezvous this Valentine's Day for a true experience of culinary excellence at reasonable prices.
The Lodge Ashford
The Lodge at Ashford Castle was built in 1865, with rooms overlooking Lough Corrib and the hills of Connemara, it is certainly one of Ireland's hidden gems. The hotel has a beautiful, elegant and unmatched charm to it. With many estate activities such as falconry as well as fine dining in their Wilde Restaurant there is no reason not to book you and your partner in for a romantic weekend and experience their warm Irish hospitality.
And the best part of all - The Lodge at Ashford Castle is far cheaper than a stay in the castle itself, but with many of the benefits. You can always pop into the castle for a fancy cocktail or two! You can book your stay through their website www.thelodgeac.com. Rooms beginning at €525.
*Some brands mentioned have been represented by Rob's PR company.
