From top: Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Newry; Nike Air Jordans
Anything good in Bloomberg?
From July to September, the number of Irish registered cars visiting the Buttercrane Centre in Newry, in Northern Ireland, rose 62 percent from the year-earlier period…
It’s easy to see why they would make the journey.
On Friday, a men’s wool jumper cost 35 pounds, or 38.75 euros, at Marks & Spencer’s in the north, compared with 47.50 euros on the company’s Irish website. Nike Air Max sneakers cost 85 pounds, or 94 euros, at JD Sports in Newry, against 110 euros in the south….
Meanwhile…
Egan now runs a cafe in Dundalk, on the other side of the border from Newry. He says he now pops across to buy the ingredients for his wife’s favorite tipple, the Negroni cocktail, made of gin, vermouth and Campari. The combined cost of buying a liter of each is 33 pounds, or 36 euros, compared with as much as 70 euros in the south, Egan said.
While Northern Ireland is traditionally cheaper than the south, the plunge in sterling now more than offsets travel costs involved in heading across the border.
“When I go up there, I hear a lot of Dublin accents, ” Egan said. “The closer to Christmas, the worse it will get. ”
Ah heyor here.
Pound Drop Takes 15% Off Air Jordans for Irish Border Shoppers (Dara Doyle, Bloomberg)
Pics: Trip Advisor; Sports Direct
Thanks Nelly Bergman
Another solution to saving money is to just stay south and buy less crap you don’t really need in the first place.
I can’t believe people still buy Air Jordan’s. Michael Jordan in 53, he probably prefers a stylish loafer or even a brogue at this stage.
iPhones in the Apple store in Belfast are around 150 euros cheaper.
Dublin accents, the worst!
sharly Draahaadas warse naw?
A few h u’s missing there Pat lad
The South.
That’s Irish retailers fupped this Christmas then…. :/
Yup, I’m heading to Newry this weekend with my Ma to see what all the fuss is about in the shops.
Kind of ironic for a southern retailer to buy his ingredients in the north
IRONY.
That’s ain’t it.
Yes, ever since Ed Byrnes deconstructed Alanis Morissette’s song, everyone’s an expert on what’s “not ironic”. Or “What’s aint it”. Can’t just leave things be.
Unless you factor in travel time, traffic snarls, parking problems and have a large van and a big shopping list, it may nt be worth it for a few bits & bobs.
Nice to say hi to our northern cousins through, they’ll miss us when the borders go back up.
Maybe bring up some passport application forms to sprinkle about.
Yup. It’s annoying. The €14 meal deal in M&S is a tenner in the UK. That’s some markup.
Not that I’ll bother me arse going up north. I’ll just stay here and whinge.
Good man, that’s the spirit!
(o)(o)
I’m a LAYDEE.
Good woman then!
I sure am!
im away now to buy a load of fireworks
went twin buggy shopping
walkinstown store – 600€
online store for same shop – 550€
went up north as was visiting Donegal + saved a good bit (Stopped in asda on the way back too)
derry store – £400
uk online – £375
Worst thing since Cromwell slaughtered all (the English Catholics) in Tredagh.
well at least that’ll keep the retailers here in check and not get too greedy this xmas. Booze cruise anyone?
A little advice for anyone heading north.
Bypass Newry altogether and keep going about 10 miles up the A1(M1) until you come to The Outlet Center. There you will find a large 24 hr Tesco and discount Gap, Nike and M&S + a number of smaller shops. No long queues or half hour spin around trying to find a parking space, ala Quays.
Your are welcome.
A Border dweller writes a potted response to Southerners who will spend every ha’penny in the UK over the next two months: feel free to spend your cash in Newry (Dundalk for slow learners) but don’t clog Joe Duffy’s phone lines in a couple of years time complaining about the waiting lists for home care, speech therapy etc etc.
Heh
it’s all a bit pikey. Travelling hours to another country because their gin is 5 quid cheaper.
It is a tad déclassé, Custo.