Prints of Ireland

Heather Gilroy couldn’t find well-designed Irish language cards, so she created her own. Now her business Prints of Ireland has helped spark a revival in as Gaeilge greetings. 

From her earliest memories of crafting homemade cards at age five, Heather Gilroy has always understood the power of paper and pen. Today, as co-founder of Prints of Ireland alongside Peter O’Neill, she has built a business that celebrates Irish culture, landscape, and language through beautifully designed greeting cards, art prints, tote bags, and calendars. 

The seeds of Prints of Ireland were sown during Heather’s time living in London after college. “When I moved out of home for the first time, I found it really special to send handwritten notes back to Ireland to let my loved ones know I was thinking of them,” she recalls. Upon returning home, Heather decided she wanted to create a brand that celebrates Ireland, its landscapes and culture, and especially the language. 

“I’d always found it tricky to find well-designed Irish language cards, so I decided to start designing and selling my own. And that’s really where Prints of Ireland began. What started with a few prints of my local town, Skerries, has grown into a wide collection of prints, greeting cards, and tote bags all celebrating Ireland’s language, culture, and a sense of nostalgia that so many of us connect with,” Heather explains. 

Online And Retail 

The company now supplies around 50 retailers across the country, including Kilkenny Design and Arnotts, alongside a selection of independent gift shops. “Seeing our designs on the shelves of iconic Irish retailers never fails to make me smile,” says Heather. “Reaching our 10,000th online order this summer was a real milestone too.” 

The card design process begins with rough sketches on her iPad before refining designs digitally or moving to Adobe Illustrator on her computer. What sets Prints of Ireland apart is its unwavering commitment to the Irish language. Every card celebrates life’s moments as Gaeilge – from birthdays and weddings to new babies and Christmas. “Our style is bright, colourful, and modern, but always with the Irish language at its heart,” she explains. 

The company runs its e-commerce operation through Shopify, chosen for its reliability in managing diverse product ranges and handling orders and payments. “We’re very active on social media and post regularly to share our latest card designs and updates. It’s a lovely way to connect directly with our customers and give them a peek behind the scenes,” Heather notes. The company newsletter has cultivated a loyal community and Prints of Ireland also pays for advertising on Google and Meta. 

An Post Assistance 

For any greeting card business, reliable postal service is essential and Prints of Ireland’s relationship with An Post has evolved since the early days when Heather would queue at the post office with armfuls of parcels. “I reached out to An Post to see if there was a better way to manage it, and they set us up with a business account and an account manager who’s always just a quick call or email away if anything comes up,” she explains. 

The An Post team helped integrate their platform with Shopify, streamlining the process and allowing customers to track orders directly. “Working with An Post has allowed us to scale up smoothly. Having a reliable delivery service isn’t just helpful, it’s absolutely vital for any small business.” 

Birthdays and Christmas reign supreme in card sales but Prints of Ireland also sees strong demand for wedding and new baby cards. Card bundles – discounted sets of 5, 15, or 25 cards with mixed designs – have become particularly popular. “There’s definitely a growing pride in using the Irish language, both at home and among those living abroad,” Heather observes. 

In an age of instant digital communication, one might question the relevance of paper cards. Heather doesn’t hesitate in her response. “I don’t think we’ll ever replace the need to send physical cards. If anything, the digital age has made them even more meaningful,” she insists. “There’s something so special about holding a handwritten note, knowing that someone took the time to sit down, write a message, and post it just for you. A handwritten card makes you feel thought of, loved, and connected – and that feeling will never go out of style.” 

Christmas Countdown 

Christmas is the most important time of the year for Prints of Ireland, and Heather has a message for anyone considering their festive purchases. “I’d really encourage people to try and buy at least one gift from an Irish maker or business this Christmas. If everyone did that, it would make a world of difference to small local brands and creators. Amazon won’t miss your order but for a small business every single purchase truly matters. 

“There’s nothing nicer than seeing that order notification pop up - it really does make our day. For the person at the other end, a handwritten Christmas card they can display on the mantelpiece means so much more than a quick text ever could.” 

Prints of Ireland’s greeting cards range is available online at https://printsofireland.ie and in selected retailers around Ireland.