Food present ideas

If he's into cooking, then what about a hand-made kitchen knife?

Rory Conor would be an option

Rory Conner Hand Made Knives (roryconnerknives.com)

Your available time might mean you can't wait for a suitable knife to become available from the likes of Fingal Ferguson.

Fingal Ferguson Knives

An old list here but may be of interest-

Irish Craft Knife Makers, Bladesmiths & Forgers | GastroGays

I got a big Fingal Fergus chefs knife for 280 euro… There were smaller ones as well, definitely several in your budget, which is decent for a handmade knife.

If you do a bit of googling there are a lot of knifemakers in Ireland now, I'm not even familiar with them all. If you got a good sized chef's knife, hard to go wrong.

With regard maintenance, I would always recommend getting something in stainless steel rather than a carbon steel knife that is harder to maintain. Even if you're into your kitchen knives, like I am, just can't be arsed most of the time. Stainless is very forgiving.

I have most of mine just in a drawer, some not in cases, they're users not for display. If they do get nicked or whatever, there are sharpening services that can remedy that.

If you don't want to go handmade, then this Global G-2 chef's knife was the one that the great Anthony Bourdain recommended…

Global G 2 Chef Knife 20.3cm - C075 - Nisbets

Anthony Bourdain's Favorite Chef's Knife - Global 8" Chef's Knife | The Kitchn

Always like a gift with a bit of a story behind it. You could get him a copy of Kitchen Confidential while you're at it.

No, I wouldn't make that assumption… Always worth contacting people and keeping up to date with their social media.

Fingal Ferguson won't have anything going, he'll just put you on the waiting list, but some of the less popular people - particularly the guys who do stock removal, could have something.

Paddy Smyth's site has this up for example, which is stunning. Whether it's still in stock, I dunno, but it's up on the site as available.

80crv2 high carbon slicer/ chopper – Smyth Knives

Blackmoor Forge are showing this up as 'in stock' also.

7" K Tip Chef Knife: Hand Crafted, High Carbon Steel (blackmoorforge.ie)

Even Fingal Ferguson's waiting list isn't as bad as it's made out to be. When the knives do become available, you all get a link to access a bunch of knives, and most of the people on the waiting list won't actually pull the trigger on one.

Dunn Blade works is ordering a 'Christmas knife drop' for November 16th, so that could also be something worth looking at.

Christmas Knife Drop - November 16th at 7PM