Dubarry of Ireland

As most of you guys will know, I live in the country.  Not the 'suburb zone six' sort of country, the 'narrow winding road, signal-vacuum, wake up to find escapee sheep/labradors/ponies in your garden' sort of country.

(all taken from my instagram)

In my (somewhat biased) opinion, it's really one of the most beautiful places you could hope to live -  I'm backed up here by The Guardian's Tom Dyckhoff, although he does point out there's not much to do here (could be why we spend so much time in the pub!)

Anyway, getting to the point of my blog post, Tom is right -  if you're not used to outdoorsy activities, and walking five miles to the nearest pub/shop isn't your sort of thing, you certainly won't fit in. Tweed, Barbour coats and riding boots are a staple here, and I'd like to spend a little time appreciating my favourite boots for country pursuits. 

If you're a little country kid (or a keen boat lover) you'll probably have heard of Dubarry of Ireland - they started out making moccasins and boat shoes in the 1930's and eventually moved in-land, experimenting with creating a goretex lined leather boot that could withstand the most demanding of rural environments.  I'm pretty sure they succeeded - I've worn my Galway boots through thick and thin, and three years on they're still as comfortable and sturdy as the day I bought them. 

In addition to the original leather Galway, they sell tweed boots and an apres-ski version with a built-in furry boot sock (if you're looking to replicate this with your boots, you can choose from a selection of liners online).  The 'Clare' and 'Longford' are slightly more elegant alternatives, based on the classic equestrian knee-boot, and they're a little more expensive. 

They also sell deck shoes and loafers (men's link here) for when you're not roaming the fields;  priced between £89-95, these are a little more wallet-friendly and will still last you for years.  My personal favourites are the 'Fiji' deck shoe (in brown, denim, oyster or red if you fancy buying me an early Christmas gift), but I think the classic Menorca would make a great gift for mum!  I also think the 'Commander' deck shoe would be a pretty swanky addition to the man in your life's wardrobe.

You can follow Dubarry on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, but you probably want to check their Facebook page out for few reasons: the first being that they keep posting pictures of cuties like this!

The second being that they've got a competition on at the moment where you can actually win yourself a pair of Galway boots (and some extra country goodies) by clicking here.  I'd argue to the moon and back that these boots are worth the expense (and nobody hates the word 'investment purchase' more than me), but it's is always better if it's free. 

Besides, this little guy wants you to enter.. are you really going to say no to him?