Louth, Leitrim and Westmeath double their nominations on Best Shops

Week three of the Best Shops competition and readers are really getting behind the shops that matter in their county. Louth, “the wee country”, Leitrim and Westmeath have all doubled their number of nominations in the last seven days.

Readers everywhere are taking to irishtimes.com/bestshops to support the shops and shopkeepers that make them feel special. McLaughlin's Hardware (above), William Street in the heart of Derry city is now entering its 101st year and "has everything you could need for your home from a pin to a bin", writes Angela Loftus. The secret to its longevity is "knowing its customers and being interested in them.

Burren Perfumery, Carron, Co Clare make perfumes, creams, balms and soaps, using natural and organic ingredients and comes up smelling like a summer meadow, a delicate fragrance of Meadowsweet, Lady's Bedstraw and Chamomile. Everything is made on site, by hand, in small batches, writes Anna Duval de Dampierre Phelan. "There is also a relaxing garden where you can learn about the plants that are used in medicine and a nice cafe that prepares organic sweets and dishes. It's a great day out."

Before travelling to Ireland, tourist Tammy Hammond searched on line for the quaintest café and happened upon Kennedy's of Enniskerry. "I contacted them via Facebook and they kept in touch until it came time to visit your beautiful country. It was a delicious start to our holiday."

The effects of The Great Irish Bake Off can still be felt with lots of readers nominating Decobake Bachelors Walk, Dublin, because "it is a great shop for bakers", Gemma Cotter writes. Liz Wickers loves its "Amaaaaazing visual impact and fabulous stock and service".

Readers also want to feel special. Aviary Beauty Salon, Newbridge, Co Kildare, is a delightful experience says Eimear Lee. "It gives first-class treatments and you are always greeted with great warmth."

You have to love the colour saturated Stone Mad, Kinsale, writes Jacqueline Ryan. "It is the "sparkliest, cheeryiest, most colourful shop imaginable. It has beautiful gifts for any occasion and any budget."

The Boudoir, Dungannon, Co Tyrone stocks "a brilliant range of various fashion and jewellery designers (including many irish labels). Cutting-edge fashion at very reasonable prices. Great staff ... very helpful!" writes Michelle McGirr

This year we've enlisted experts in their fields to sit on our judging panel, a new feature of the competition. Simon Pratt, MD of Avoca, Edmund Shanahan, a retail, fashion and homewares consultant, fashion designers and Frockadvisor columnists Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney and Irish Times journalist Alanna Gallagher.

[ Irishtimes.com/bestshops ]

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