Buying Irish
Ireland has a remarkable natural health products sector — from wild Atlantic seaweed to premium Irish honey, locally produced supplements, and global brands with deep Irish roots. Here's what to buy and why it matters.
The "buy Irish" movement is often framed as an economic argument — supporting local jobs, keeping money in the domestic economy, reducing carbon footprint. All of that is true. But in the natural health context, there are additional quality-related reasons why Irish and locally produced health products are worth seeking out.
Ireland's wild Atlantic coastline is one of the cleanest in Europe — arguably the world. The cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Atlantic and the unpolluted air of the western seaboard create conditions for seaweed, herbs, and other natural health ingredients that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. Irish seaweed, Irish honey, and Irish herbs often genuinely are better — not just in a patriotic sense, but in a measurable, analytical sense of mineral content, purity, and potency.
Ireland also has a strong tradition of food safety and agricultural regulation. Irish food products — including health foods — benefit from EU regulatory frameworks and, in many cases, additional Irish Organic Trust or Bord Bia certification schemes that provide meaningful quality assurance. When you buy from an Irish producer, you are buying within a well-regulated, transparent supply chain.
Finally, there is the matter of freshness and traceability. A seaweed product sourced from a small Irish producer and sold through an Irish health food store may have been harvested weeks rather than months ago. Supplements made from Irish-grown or Irish-sourced ingredients have shorter, more transparent supply chains than products manufactured from ingredients shipped from China or South America.
A. Vogel is one of Ireland's most beloved natural health brands — though its origins are Swiss, not Irish. Founded by Alfred Vogel (1902–1996), a Swiss naturopath and herbalist of extraordinary influence, the A. Vogel company was built on Alfred's life's work of fresh plant herbal medicine.
Alfred Vogel's contribution to herbal medicine cannot be overstated. He spent decades travelling the world studying medicinal plants and developing preparations that preserved the vitality of fresh plant material. His approach — using fresh plants harvested at peak potency rather than dried herbs — is still the foundation of A. Vogel's product development philosophy.
In the 1960s, Alfred Vogel brought his work to wider audiences through public talks, books, and the development of specific formulations. The A. Vogel Echinacea range — one of the company's most famous products — is based on his work with fresh Echinacea purpurea, grown and harvested at the company's own farms to ensure quality and consistency.
A. Vogel has had a significant Irish presence for decades, with an Irish management team and distribution operation that has made the brand a cornerstone of Irish health food retail. The Irish team includes specialists who understand the specific health challenges Irish people face — including vitamin D deficiency, high rates of iron deficiency in women, and the particular patterns of respiratory illness in a damp Atlantic climate.
Key A. Vogel products widely stocked in Irish health food stores include:
Ireland's wild Atlantic coastline — particularly along the west coast from Donegal through Sligo, Mayo, Galway, and Cork — is one of the richest seaweed harvesting environments in the world. Irish seaweed has been part of traditional Irish food culture for centuries: as a food, a fertiliser, and a medicine.
Today, Ireland's seaweed sector has gone global. Irish seaweed brands are now exported to health food markets across Europe, the US, and beyond, valued for the purity and nutrient density that comes from being harvested in clean, cold, mineral-rich Atlantic waters.
Aran Islands Seaweed — harvested sustainably from the waters around the Aran Islands, with exceptional mineral content reflecting the North Atlantic's rich mineral profile. Available in whole-leaf, flake, and supplement form.
Connemara Seaweed Company — hand-harvested kelp, bladderwrack, and dulse from the Connemara coastline. Family-run, with strong sustainability credentials and transparent harvesting practices.
Donegal Coast Seaweed — from Ireland's northernmost seaweed-rich coast, including exceptional fucus (bladderwrack) species valued for their iodine content and thyroid-supporting properties.
Key Irish seaweed species and their health properties:
When buying Irish seaweed, look for hand-harvested product from identifiable coastal locations, with clear information about species, harvest date, and drying method. Sustainable harvesting certification from BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara) or Organic Trust is an additional quality indicator.
Irish honey is among the world's most distinctive, reflecting the extraordinary biodiversity of the Irish countryside — from the heather-rich hillsides of Connemara and Wicklow to the white clover of the midland pastures and the wildflower meadows of the Burren in Co. Clare.
The Irish native black bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) — now protected and actively supported through conservation programmes by the Irish Native Honey Bee Society — produces honey with a character unique to the Irish climate. Adapted over thousands of years to Ireland's wet, cool Atlantic conditions, the native bee forages on plant species that give Irish honey its distinctive flavour and health profile.
All raw, unprocessed honey has well-documented antimicrobial properties — the combination of low pH, hydrogen peroxide content, and osmotic pressure creates an environment hostile to most bacteria. Irish raw honey, if sourced from reputable Irish beekeepers who don't heat-treat or over-filter their honey, retains these properties alongside live enzymes and beneficial compounds.
Specific Irish honey varieties have particular character:
Irish health food stores typically stock raw Irish honey from local beekeepers alongside speciality honeys like Manuka from New Zealand. When choosing, look for "raw", "unfiltered", and "Irish origin" on the label, along with the name of the beekeeper or region of production — genuine Irish honey producers are proud to tell you exactly where it comes from.
Ireland has a growing number of supplement brands that manufacture or significantly formulate their products in Ireland. These brands represent Irish entrepreneurship in the natural health sector, bringing local knowledge and Irish regulatory standards to supplement development.
Udo's Choice — founded by Canadian nutritionist Udo Erasmus and manufactured in Ireland (with Irish operations), Udo's Choice is one of the most respected omega-3/6/9 supplement brands in Irish health food retail. Their Ultimate Oil Blend is a staple in Irish health food stores.
Lir Health and other Irish nutraceutical companies have emerged as quality producers of immune support, energy, and general wellness supplements developed for the Irish and EU markets, often drawing on Irish-sourced ingredients.
Many Irish health food stores also source supplements from Irish-owned distributors who work exclusively with quality European brands, providing a locally accountable supply chain even when the supplement itself is manufactured in mainland Europe.
Ireland's skincare sector has blossomed in recent years, with several Irish brands achieving international recognition for natural, plant-based formulations that reflect the country's botanical heritage.
Kinvara Skincare — based in Co. Galway, Kinvara produces award-winning organic skincare using wild seaweed and organic botanicals harvested in Ireland. Their Fresh Repair Serum and Rosehip Miracle Serum have developed devoted followings.
Ogam Skincare — a small-batch Irish skincare producer focused on ancestral Irish botanical knowledge, using species of plants traditionally used in Irish folk medicine in their formulations.
International brands with strong Irish affinity, widely stocked in Irish health food stores, include Dr Hauschka (German biodynamic brand with a devoted Irish following, particularly for menopausal skincare — as recommended by The Honey Pot's Barbara Coffey), Neal's Yard Remedies, and Green People.
Ireland has a rich herbal medicine tradition stretching back to the early Celtic period. The Brehon Laws — Ireland's ancient legal code — included provisions relating to the practice of medicine and the use of medicinal plants. Irish monasteries maintained herb gardens and produced medicinal preparations. The Physicians of Connacht and their counterparts in other provinces preserved sophisticated botanical knowledge across the medieval period.
This tradition lives on in Irish health food retail. Several Irish herbal practitioners have developed their own preparations and tinctures, often using locally grown or wildcrafted Irish herbs alongside established European medicinal plants.
Herbs that grow wild or are cultivated in Ireland with recognised health properties include:
The best place to buy Irish natural health brands is through Irish independent health food stores — particularly IAHS member stores whose staff can advise on the best products for your specific needs and help you navigate the range of Irish and locally produced options.
The Honey Pot in Clonmel stocks a carefully selected range of Irish and quality European health products, including A. Vogel's full Irish range, Irish honey, and specialist brands not widely available elsewhere. The store's online shop at thehoneypotonline.ie makes these products available nationwide.
The Honey Pot stocks the full A. Vogel Irish range, Irish honey, wild Atlantic seaweed products, and quality Irish-made natural health supplements — all advised by qualified naturopaths.
14 Abbey Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary | 📞 052-612 1457
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or making changes to your health regimen.