Irish Brands No Longer With Us

Nice one. Perhaps he has had a long day! Indeed yes Waterford Crystal. Arklow Pottery come to that (before it was owned by the Japanese). We also had several carpet brands - Navan and Youghal for example. Carrolls cigarettes too

Anyone remember Greenhills towels and tableware. Our house was full of it.

Ann22, you are quite right I meant Cara. I'm all thumbs today

Uch, yes indeed Phoenix Ale. It had that lovely logo too. Letts Brewery in Waterford also produced Killians Red Beer (ale). It closed many years ago but is brewed now in the US as a red lagar for the US market.

I also remember Valley but I seem to recall they were perhaps better known for their amazing variety of novelty ice creams and ice lollies - weird names & lurid packaging.

Powerfarmer, as I suggested in another thread you know your ice creams but I suspect you are very well versed in the history of many dairy products

The Killians Red brand (formerly Letts Ale) is now heavily marketed in America by Coors as an 'Irish Lager' (heaven preserve us). They originally brewed it as an ale but it didn't take off. Today they use George Letts, a member of the Letts family to present their advertising to give the feel authenticity of 'ould' Ireland:

http://www.georgekillians.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbeBzrCsuhg&NR=1
http://www.expotv.com/videos/reviews/10/118/KILLIAN27SIRISHREDPREMIUMLAGER/89716

Newman your memory is one that is shared by a lot of people. The idea of theming Christmas window displays with spectacular displays was originally pioneered in America by Macys of New York, who also developed the whole modern myth of the red suited Santa Clause and his reindeers that we have applied down the years. In fact the idea of a red suit, as opposed to the traditional European St Nicholas being depicted in green or brown in Victorian times, was initiated by Coca Cola who sponsored Macys windows. Red was Coke's house colours.

Anyway I digress. The concept of breathtaking displays was first introduced to Ireland by Brown Thomas. Under the management of John McGuire in the 1930s, they appointed the young Irish artist Norah McGuinness to develop stylish window displays that reflected the passing seasons. The first such display quite literally stoppeed the traffic in Grafton Street. Switzers quickly followed suit.

Such dramatic displays are less used today as it is an expensive and time consuming job, and many of the department stores Christmas displays pale into significance compared to those of the past. Today the tradition is still carried out by Macys (under new ownership) in America, but is also very evident in London's top department stores like Harrods and Selfriges.