Forget socks and soap on a rope. Instead, give him a (last-minute) gift that he might actually like this Father's Day.
Father's Day does not get the same amount of attention as Mother's Day does, nor does it yet garner the same amount of spending.
According to the marketing firm IReach Insights 74 per cent of those who plan to celebrate the day plan to buy their dad a present.
Do dads want to be showered with chocolates and flowers, or would they prefer something more thoughful?
It’s tough to find what your dad needs, so here are 10 gifts that every dad wants:
1. FAI tickets
While the nation is currently watching the World Cup and thinking “what might have been”, Ireland still has plenty of important matches later in the year.
If your dad loves football, taking him to the Aviva Stadium in autumn looks like the perfect gift, with UEFA Nations League matches against Austria and Kosovo on October 1 and November 17, respectively.
Tickets have not been released yet, but they will be available on Ticketmaster and are typically between €40 and €70.
2. Vinyl records
An old-school record player could be the perfect gift for nostalgic dads, but it may just be outside your budget, so why not go for a collectable vinyl instead?
Plenty of vinyl records are available in charity shops like Oxfam and range in price from €3 to €70.
This gives fathers and sons a day out perusing the selections and adds incentive to invest in a turntable for the house.
3. LEGO World Cup trophy
World Cup fever is consuming us all, but your dad may need something to take his mind off England's increasing chances of going all the way.
For €179.99 at the LEGO shop, he can build his own World Cup trophy to display at home, as the real one won't be seen in Ireland any time soon.
4. A coffee machine
A coffee machine may be disguised as a gift for your dad, but the whole family will welcome the addition.
Bosch’s Tassimo machine uses capsules to form the base for a myriad of cafe-style orders, from cappuccino to an iced mocha, a present that will prove well worth its purchase price, €39.95, at Power City.
5. Hot towel shave
The Grooming Rooms in Dublin delivers a double treatment special that is a hot towel shave with a haircut for €80.
The experience lasts a luxurious 75 minutes, giving your dad the chance to rewind and relax away from home.
Make the booking before you present the gift, so all he has to do is return with a much sleeker look.
Meanwhile, The Grafton Barber is offering a discounted €114.50 premium shave box for €89, packed with everything your dad needs for a barber-style shave at home.
6. A different kind of pillow talk
A slimline pillow speaker is perfect for dads who enjoy a late-night podcast, but don’t want to give their sleeping partner any additional reasons for divorce.
Whether he’s lying in on a Sunday morning or heading to bed early for some alone time, this could be the ideal gift while keeping noise to a minimum.
A rechargeable Kinglucky pillow speaker is available on Amazon for €21.54.
7. HBO or Nord VPN subscription
HBO Max came to Ireland this year and brought an abundance of must-see television shows and movies with it.
TV subscriptions start at €6.99 per month with ads, allowing viewers to binge series such as The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Band of Brothers and Succession.
Alternatively, a Nord VPN subscription typically starts at around €3.50 per month and can allow your dad to protect his privacy, add extra security to his devices and watch overseas content, including BBC iPlayer.
8. A page-turning best-seller
New York Times writer Patrick Radden Keefe is top of the charts at the moment with his new thriller, London Falling.
This book's premise surrounds the mysterious death and secret life of Zac Brettler, a teenager who plunged into the Thames in London in 2019. It is available from Dubray Books for €17.99.
9. Give him permission to sing in the shower
Gift your dad the freedom to sing in the shower at the top of his voice. It should come with a warning about water wastage.
It easily adheres to the wall and connects via Bluetooth, so your dad can play their favourite hits or simply whatever is on the airwaves. An AGPTEK model is available on Amazon for €31.81.
10. The soundtrack to a summer BBQ
Music fans will love the fact that this rechargeable-battery-operated outdoor speaker can run for up to 16 hours.
It means he can align his sound choices to his timings for the pork belly ribs he's about to smoke.
A waterproof Sony model can be bought on Amazon for €34.95.
Perfect for outdoor get-togethers, your dad’s neighbours will just be hoping that he has good taste in his tunes choices.
