Christmas Shopping in Newry

• By: Editor
• On: 19/Nov/08
• In: Christmas in Ireland

If you’re familiar with UK high street shops, but don’t want the hassle of flying across the pond at this time of the year, here’s a stress free travel option for you! Ever thought of heading up North to do your Christmas shopping?

This year why not consider Newry? The exchange rate has never been so good and with many shops accepting Euros as well, what are you waiting for? Fill that tank and off you go!

Newry is fairly close to the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland and is only 102km from Dublin. Because of its closeness to the border it’s fast becoming a shopping haven, especially for people from Dublin.

Newry is one of Northern Ireland’s oldest towns and was founded in 1144. Originally a market town, it wasn’t granted city status until March 2002.

Newry is situated in the south east of Ulster, with half of the city in County Armagh and the other half in County Down. It’s surrounded by the famous Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion – both are areas of outstanding beauty. It’s a case of "water, water everywhere" with Newry, the river Clanrye and the Newry Canal flow through the city, and also Carlingford Lough is not too far away.

Shopping in Newry is dominated by two massive shopping centres, which between them probably stock everything including the kitchen sink!  Add the glitter and magic of Christmas decorations and Christmas lights and surely, and not forgetting the glitz and glamour of the party season, you’ll be in Christmas shopping mode to tackle that never ending list of Christmas pressies!

Buttercrane Shopping Centre…

Buttercrane Shopping Centre is located in the city centre right next to Newry Canal. It houses most of your high street favourites. Shoppers will definitely have died and gone to heaven with 60 shops to go through. Choose from Marks and Spencer, Virgin, Birthdays, Bay Trading and Mothercare. Other popular retail units include Dunnes Stores, Easons, Primark (Penny’s) and O’Briens sandwich bar.

Opening hours:

Monday and Tuesday - 9am to 5.30pm

Wednesday to Friday - 9am to 9pm

Saturday - 9am to 6pm

Sunday - 1pm to 6pm

And no need to worry about parking either as there are 1000 parking spaces on site.

People with disabilities can also shop with ease. The 1st hurdle of parking is taken care of with 40 spaces allocated to disabled parking. The centre features 3 lifts, disabled toilets with disabled access and a shopmobility facility.

Find out more about Buttercrane Shopping Centre.

The Quays…

The Quays is another shopping centre and leisure development, smack bang in the middle of Newry. And just like Buttercrane it’s on the canal. Again this has many high street favourites including Ernest Jones, Early Learning Centre, HMV, River Island, Sainsburys and Waterstones, to name but a few.

Got time for a "hair-do" between all that hectic shopping, then a trip to Peter Marks may be just what you need! Staying on the same floor, Deli-Lites restaurant or sandwich bar will do a good job in filling that gap.

Now if you haven’t come just for the shopping the centre also houses a 9-screen cinema.  Stock up beforehand on the all-important film food at Haagen Dazs and Ye Olde Sweet Shop.

There really is something for everyone at the Quays. For all art lovers now – come along to the Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery for your solution to the ideal Christmas present.

Facilities at the centre include 1,300 car parking spaces, with spacing being allocated to disabled customers. Also on-site is a customer service desk, toilets including special needs toilets, baby changing facilities, a lift, shopmobility and a very important feature for all parents, child safe zones.

Find out more about The Quays, including opening hours, as times differ during the Christmas shopping period.

Where else can you splash your cash? 

Shopping in Newry is not just all about these two main shopping centres. Other retail hot spots include Hill Street and Monaghan Street. 

On Hill Street you will find men’s designer shops, ladies fashion boutiques, and Independent retailers, for example, Cahill Brothers Shoe Shop (100 years old), Jack Murphy Jewellers (50 years old), Tavey Brothers and Louis Boyd (men’s shops). Hill Street is also home to the Thursday and Saturday variety markets.

On Monaghan Street you will find Dunnes Stores, T.K. Maxx, Argos, Mc Parland’s and Newry Computer Centre.

Newry City Centre has a variety of cafés, eateries and restaurants. These include Bellini’s Bar and Restaurant, The Bank Bar and Restaurant, Cobbles Bar and Restaurant, Seporia Italia and Bandu Restaurant.

For somewhere to stay check out our Down accommodation and Armagh accommodation pages.

As always we'd love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions.