Sending flowers in Ireland: getting it right

Choosing the flowers is the fun part. Making sure they reach the right door, on the right day, with a message that sounds like you takes a little more thought, especially in a country of townlands, shared surnames and busy bank holiday weekends.

First, the occasion

Birthday: bright, mixed and cheerful. See our flower language guide if you want a particular message.
Romance: red or deep pink roses, or the person’s favourite flower.
Sympathy: white and soft colours, usually to the house after the funeral.
New baby: gentle colours and little scent; many new parents prefer the flowers at home.
Thank you: pink, peach or seasonal flowers; warm without being romantic.
Get well: check whether the hospital ward accepts flowers before ordering.

Find a bouquet for any occasion.

See bouquets

Getting the address right

Most failed deliveries come down to the address. Irish addresses can be tricky: houses in the countryside often have a name rather than a number, several families in the same townland may share a surname, and new estates are not always on sat-nav.

Use the Eircode. Every address in the State has its own seven-character code, and it takes the guesswork out of rural deliveries.
Add a phone number for the recipient if you can, so the driver can ring for directions.
Apartments: include the block, the apartment number and any building name.
Workplaces: name the company and the department, and check the person is in that day.
Hospitals: include the ward. Our hospital guide explains more.

Busy days and bank holidays

Florists are at full stretch around a handful of dates. Order early for:

Valentine’s Day, 14 February.
Mothering Sunday, in March, three weeks before Easter Sunday. It is not in May as in America.
Christmas, when deliveries also compete with parcels.
Father’s Day in June, and the debs and exam season in late summer.

Deliveries normally do not run on Sundays, Christmas Day or St Stephen’s Day, and the Irish public holidays (St Brigid’s Day in February, St Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday and the first Mondays of May, June and August and last Monday of October) can affect when flowers arrive. Check the available dates at checkout and choose the working day before if needed.

Flowers for homes, offices and hospitals across Ireland.

Choose flowers

Writing the card

The card is often what people keep. A few tips:

Write as you would speak. “Thinking of you, Mary” beats a formal phrase.
Say who it is from in a way they will recognise: “Seán and the lads from work”, not just a surname.
For sympathy, short is fine: “So sorry for your loss.”
If you want to stay anonymous, leave the name off but think about whether a mystery delivery might worry them.

Sending flowers abroad

Many people in Ireland have family overseas. You can also choose a destination country on our site and see the bouquets available there. Allow for local holidays and time differences, and put the address in the format used in that country.

Keeping them fresh

If you are delivering flowers yourself, keep them out of a hot car and give them water as soon as you arrive. The recipient will find our care tips useful, and our frequently asked questions cover more practical points.

Questions about sending flowers

Do I need an Eircode to send flowers?

It is not always required, but it helps a great deal. Many rural addresses share a townland name or have no house number, and the Eircode points the driver to the exact building. Ask the family or check the Eircode finder online if you are unsure.

Can I send flowers without saying who they are from?

Yes. Leave your name off the card message and the recipient will not see it. Bear in mind that anonymous flowers can worry some people, so a gentle hint in the message is often kinder.

What happens if nobody is home?

The driver will usually try a neighbour, a safe place such as a porch, or contact the sender. Adding a phone number for the recipient and a short delivery note, for example leave with the house next door, makes a big difference.