Are you looking for the most iconic brands from Ireland?
The Emerald Isle is known for its thousands of castles, some of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions, the otherworldly film locations, that distinct accent and craic. However, the country has, for decades, also contributed some of the world’s most iconic and reliable brands.
Ireland is home to some of the world’s top products, and the names go beyond Guinness and RyanAir. From breakfast essentials to taking you to your dream destinations, here’s a list of iconic Irish brands that you should know.
Things you'll find in this article
10 Most Iconic Irish Brands
Irish Brands in Food & Beverage
1. Baileys Irish Cream
View this post on Instagram
Originally produced by Gilbeys of Ireland and now owned by Diageo, Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur.
Gilbeys, looking for a worldwide marketable product, came up with Baileys, which is widely used in Irish Coffees and other mixed drinks. This Irish brand and its eponymous cream were originally developed all the way back in 1971. It took the As to the brand name’s origin, “Bailey” was selected for no other reason than to further an existing brand.
Today, no other brand has really topped or even equalled this smooth, sweet creamy liqueur that Baileys is known for.
2. Flahavans
View this post on Instagram
When it comes to Irish breakfast, one can’t not think of potatoes and porridge. And when you say porridge, Flahavan’s is the leading Irish brand.
Flahavan’s is a family business that has been making porridge, flapjacks, and muesli for generations. Since the 18th century, Flahavan’s mill in Munster has been turning out porridge. In Kilmacthomas, Munster, where the family has lived since 1785, they have a mill where they produce a variety of oat-based goods.
The rolled oats are among Flahavan’s most popular products, and the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, and Spain are just a few of the 16 countries where the firm’s products have been exported. The current packaging design for the company’s porridge products features the Flahavan’s logo at the top of the packet, alongside a photo of a bowl of porridge and sunlight streaming in through a window to indicate that it is a breakfast food.
3. Guinness
View this post on Instagram
Arthur Guinness founded the Guinness brewery at St. James’s Gate, Dublin, where the now-famous dry stout was first brewed. One of the most popular beer brands in the world, Guinness is based on the porter style that was created in London in the early 18th century.
The roasted barley gives it a distinct charred flavor that sets it apart. However, Guinness has declined to clarify whether or not they still age a portion of the drink to impart a strong lactic flavor. Nitrogen is mixed into the beer during the pouring process, creating the frothy, creamy head. It is the best-selling alcoholic beverage in Ireland’s history, and is a huge hit among Irish people both at home and abroad.
4. Jameson Irish Whiskey
View this post on Instagram
Jameson is akin to the single malt tradition in that it is produced in a single distillery, but it differs in that it uses both malted and unmalted barley in its production. The “Pure Pot Still” component is what makes Jameson so well-known, and it’s something only Irish whiskey can claim.
The Bow Street Distillery was producing over 30,000 gallons annually when it was purchased by Scottish merchant John Jameson in 1780. As the century turned, it had become one of the world’s largest producers, with an annual output of 1,000,000 gallons. At the time, Dublin was where all the world’s whiskey was made. Jameson became the most widely consumed whiskey in the world by 1805. Prior to that year, rum had been the most consumed spirit.
Today, the company’s ownership has changed hands to the French alcoholic beverage giant Pernod Ricard. Jameson now ranks as the world’s third-largest Single Distillery Whiskey.
5. Kerrygold
View this post on Instagram
Not all butters are made equal, and over the past four decades, this particular brand has grown more representative of Irish culture than any butter should be. Its salty, creamy richness and a series of memorable, oftentimes raunchy, advertising campaigns made it a hit.
Kerrygold was developed in 1962 by Anthony O’Reilly, then the director of An Bord Bainne. Kerrygold was chosen from a list of 60 names, therefore it wasn’t until 1973 that it began to appear on store shelves in the Republic.
While Kerrygold may be most well-known in Ireland for its butter, the company actually produces and exports a wide variety of goods, from milk powder to alcoholic beverages. In the western German city of Neukirchen-Vluyn, a street has been called after this iconic brand.
6. Tayto
View this post on Instagram
Joe Murphy established Tayto in 1954, and the company is generally credited as the pioneer of the modern method of mass producing flavored crisps.
Dublin native “Spud” started up the company since he wasn’t satisfied with the available flavor options. Initially, there were only eight workers on staff. One of them, Seamus Burke, was given the responsibility of refining the flavored crisp. After much trial and error, he settled on the combination of cheese and onion and worked on it until his supervisor approved.
Mr. Murphy next asked the illustrious Findlater family, originally from Scotland but now residing in Ireland, to stock his crisps in their 21 upscale grocery and wine shops. The family agreed and thus began decades of Tayto’s success as one of Ireland’s leading brands.
The popularity of company mascot Mr. Tayto is a major factor in the firm’s ability to attract customers. In the 1960s, it made its debut on packs. Flavors are also distinguished by different colors, and Mr. Tayto stands in front of the company name on the crisps’ packaging.
Health & Beauty Brands from Ireland
7. Sudocrem
View this post on Instagram
Dublin pharmacist Thomas Smith developed a cream for diaper rash, eczema, pressure sores, and other minor skin disorders in 1931. Its first name was Smith’s Cream but after realizing that was a bad name, he changed it to Soothing Cream.
Supposedly because Dubliners had trouble pronouncing the “th,” the product became colloquially (and then officially) known as Sudocrem. It first hit the shelves in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, when it soon rose to the top of the nappy rash cream sales charts, just as it had done in the United States. More than 40 nations now carry it. Sudocrem is still manufactured in Dublin today and is now sold in various pharmacies and skincare hubs around the world.
Irish Brands in Retail
8. Primark
View this post on Instagram
Primark Stores Limited is a fast-fashion retailer that is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Primark Stores Limited is an Irish multinational company. The company was established in 1969 by Arthur Ryan and saw rapid growth and expansion in Northern Island almost immediately after its inception. It is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods and operates retail locations in a variety of countries, including the United States and Europe.
Primark has a total of 373 sites across the world, and its products and services can be found in a variety of settings.
However, since its official name is owned by the American retailer J. C. Penney outside of Ireland, the Penneys brand is not used anywhere else in the world except in the Emerald Isle.
Irish Brands in Air Travel
9. Aer Lingus
View this post on Instagram
A brand that’s familiar to those travelling within Ireland, Europe a d the UK. “Aer Lingus” is an anglicization of the Irish word “aerloingeas,” and it is the name of Ireland’s national airline. It was established by the government of Ireland, but between 2006 and 2015 it underwent privatization and is now a completely owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group (IAG). The headquarters of the airline are located within Dublin Airport in Cloghran, which is located in County Dublin.
10. Ryanair
View this post on Instagram
Ryanair is a low-cost airline based in Ireland that was established in 1984. It has its primary operational bases at the airports in Dublin and London Stansted. Its headquarters are located in Swords, which is located in Dublin, Ireland.
Ryanair, which is one of the most well-known low-cost airlines in Europe, takes great satisfaction in being one of the places in Europe that offers the best combination of speed and affordability. They provide scheduled service to more than 1,300 different locations worldwide. Ryanair is known for having inexpensive fares and providing simple,reliable service.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 60 countries for the past 12 years. I also lived in 4 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia, Africa and now in Europe. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.