Celtic Gift Store With Irish Roots Plans To Open In Greenfield

GREENFIELD, WI — A store with a knack for Irish and Celtic goods is planning a return to retail in Greenfield after over a year of pandemic uncertainty.

Mystic Ireland, owned by Irish-born Clodagh Mc Guinness, plans to bring a host of authentic imports and Irish goods to its new space, a former CBD shop at 4156 S 108th Street in Greenfield. Mc Guinness is shooting for a Nov. 1 opening.

The store offers Celtic jewelry made in Ireland, Guinness-themed merchandise, household gifts, pottery, sweaters, colognes, rings, perfumes, t-shirts, and even a teddy bear.

Jewelry and clothing are often adorned with recognizable Celtic motifs. Other items are plastered with shamrocks, although Mc Guinness said shamrocks are a watered-down version of the country. She prefers to stick to more authentic items.

"I love the really old ancient monuments and the old Celtic traditions," Mc Guinness said about her inspirations in the store. Green beer and Saint Patrick's day ruckus are more of a "commercialization and modernization" of Irish heritage, she said.

The thousands of years of heritage and the values of Celtic culture especially piques Mc Guinness's passion for Ireland.

Mc Guinness's store runs in the family. Its first iteration was in Appleton where her parents opened a gift shop in 2001.

In 2004, Mc Guinness came to Elm Grove to open up a store of her own. It was open for 16 years, and through that time, it became intertwined into a community of Milwaukee's Irish heritage.

When March 2020 hit and the pandemic forced festivals across the region to call it quits, it left a hole. Festivals went hand-in-hand with the store—not only in the business, but in the community, Mc Guinness recounted.

"They (festivals and the store) complement each other financially and for business," she said.

The abrupt end of festivals, such as Milwaukee's Irish Fest, forced Mc Guinness to not renew her lease in Elm Grove. More than a year has passed, and festivals have returned.

Milwaukee's Irish Fest took place in August. It was the first major festival that Mc Guinness was able to get back out to.

"It was great to see everyone," she said, "I've made many friends through the store, it's not just about the retail."

Mc Guinness grew up in Waterford, Ireland. She went to university in Northern Ireland. She and her family did not have express intent to move to Wisconsin. Instead, it happened almost by accident, Mc Guinness said.

While living in Ireland her father found a job in Fond Du Lac that was supposed to be a temporary position. Mc Guinness's parents moved to the United States while she completed college in Northern Ireland.

One year became two, and then three. Eventually, Mc Guinness made the move to Wisconsin. She currently lives in Greenfield.

"I love it in Wisconsin," she said, "Wisconsin people are like Irish people."

The store is set to open Nov. 1. Find out more details about the shop here.

"Is there an Irish pub in Greenfield?" Mc Guinness wondered out loud. "Someone's got to open an Irish pub in Greenfield."

Like our coverage of local business like this in Greenfield? Invite a friend to sign up for free morning newsletters and real-time breaking news alerts.