With the holiday season in full swing, it’s difficult to know what to buy people.

Here are some of our top ideas for Irish gifts over the holiday season. From food and clothing to jewelry and arts events, there is something for everyone.

1.    Lilly O’Brien’s Cafe, Bryant Park

Bringing delicious Irish chocolates to New York, why not pop into the Flagship Irish Chocolate café and retail store in the heart of Bryant Park to warm up with a hot chocolate.

There you can pick up all of your chocolate favorites such as the Signature Lily O’Brien chocolate collection or Lily O'Brien’s Sticky named after her daughter Lily, who became the chief taster when Mary began making chocolates in her kitchen in the early nineties.

Visit their website here.

2.  Shamrock Gift

Shamrock Gift takes pride in their Irish heritage and stock rare items that are normally very hard to obtain throughout the world. If you have ever tried to buy something authentic from Ireland, you were most likely paying twice as much and had to wait weeks to receive your items.

3.    Imagine Ireland

As we approach the end of 2011 why not celebrate the Irish Arts in the U.S and attend an Imagine Ireland event over the holidays. With events on throughout the U.S. tickets could make an ideal gift.

Enda Walsh’s “Misterman” starring Cillian Murphy runs through to December 21 at St Ann’e Waterhouse in Brooklyn. James X by Gerard Mannix Flynn and directed by Gabriek Byrne runs through to December 18 at 45 Bleecker. Or ir you cannot attend An Irish Christmas: A Musical Solstice Celebration at the Irish Arts Center (also running until December 18) you can pick up a copy of their live CD for a gift.

Check out the Imagine Ireland website for more details on all the events.

4.    Irish food treats from the Butcher block and Prime Cuts

No-one could complain about finding a tin of Roses, or some other delicious Irish food treats under their Christmas tree. For a few bags of Tayto to Kerrygold Irish butter or cheese, you can pick up some great stocking fillers in the Butcher Block in Queens and Prime Cuts Irish Butcher Store in the Bronx.

5.    Donegal Importers

From Ireland’s shore to your door, Donegal importers bring you the finest Irish gifts including everything from Jimmy Hourihan capes and shawls, Donegal Caps to Inis Perfune and Heritage Irish Crystal. Donegal Importers is your one stop shop for authentic Irish clothing and gifts. Founded and ran by John Murray in Donegal, they also have a retail location in Manahawkin, NJ.

Check out their website for to see a full line of products available.

6.    Celtic Promise Jewelry

Founded this year, Celtic Promise Jewelry offers fine Irish heritage jewelry with a contemporary twist.

“It’s an online source for handmade, traditional and modern designs, and showcases some of Ireland’s most talented designers of today,” co-founder Ruair Cuirtin told the Irish Voice.

Collections such as the Saints and Scholors offer designs inspired by Ireland’s rich and diverse inheritance of spellbinding manuscripts and art.

Check out their website here.

7.    The handmade soap company

When the recession took it’s toll on Donagh Quigley thatching business in Ireland, him and his wife Gemma decided to start the handmade soap company in Ireland. The couple were inspired to create natural soaps after they discovered a vibrant cottage industry in the making and selling of delightful handmade soaps, while on vacation in Australia.

Now distributing to the U.S. the Irish company prides themselves on their homemade 100% natural range of skincare products. Their latest product is a 100% natural handmade shaving soap that is particularly suited for sensitive skin. a vibrant cottage industry in the making and selling of delightful handmade soaps.

Check out their website here.

8.    Irish  coin cufflinks

A lovely token from Ireland ‘Birthday cufflinks’ offers handmade individual cufflinks from old and new  Irish currency coins to reflect people’s culture, heritage and pride in their association with the country they love. At the Irish based company  you can choose the year of an Irish coin, which we hand make into a set of cufflinks. The coins are modeled on the first coins of the Irish free state.

Check out their website here.

9.    Aran Sweater Market

One  of the most famous items of clothing related to Ireland, The Aran Sweater takes its name from the set of islands where it originated many generations ago, off the West coast of Ireland. The Aran Sweater Market has been producing quality hand knitwear since 1892. The online store stocks knitwear for all ages as well as some home wares and jewelry.

Buy direct from the home of Aran sweater for quality authentic knitwear at the best price.

10.    Heritage tour of Ireland

The ultimate Christmas gift why not book at ticket for IrishCentral’s travel club for the 2012 Irish Heritage tour. The week long trip includes sightseeing by luxury coach to popular tourist destinations such as Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher and Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens.

Prices start from $1568. Book your trip here.