ieExplains: As Siofra Shamrock arrives in Ireland — what are Jellycats?
Jellycat fans posing with the giant Siofra Shamrock in Dublin
They are toys made by London-based brand Jellycat since 1999 — yes, they’re over a quarter of a century old. They pride themselves in being “luxuriously soft” and “highly loveable and playful toys”.
The soft toy creations range from animals to ‘amusables’, which are anything from croissants to raindrops, all beloved by their TikTok generation fans.
Firstly, it’s a limited edition toy and only available in Ireland, so that has caused a surge in interest around this particular toy.
Jellycat describes Siofra Shamrock as “a lucky clover like no other. Featuring three perfectly plush leaves, a cheerful smiling face, an adorable stem ‘tail’, and chocolate cord boots, this delightful character brings the spirit of the Emerald Isle to life in the most huggable way imaginable. Siofra is ready to become the star of your Jellycat collection, your St Patrick’s Day celebrations, and beyond.”
Brown Thomas, where the toy is for sale, added to the sense of occasion with a giant-sized Siofra Shamrock in its Grafton Street store, offering shoppers a chance to snap a photo with the exclusive Jellycat.
“Siofra Shamrock is a very special addition to the Jellycat family, and we are delighted to offer it as a world exclusive,” said Edel Woods, head of home and lifestyle buying at Brown Thomas Arnotts.
“The Jellycat collection brings joy to so many, it’s exciting to launch a character that celebrates Irish heritage in such a playful and endearing way. We can’t wait to welcome our customers to experience the magic of Siofra in-store and take home a little piece of Irish charm.”
Kind of. Jellycat's 'Siofra the Shamrock' saw fans flying into Ireland from the UK and beyond to snap up one of the limited edition toys. Brown Thomas says the collection sold out online in just 27 minutes.
However, a spokesperson says that while the collection is limited, there will be a delivery into Brown Thomas and Arnotts every day this week for in-person shoppers.
Yes and no. They are toys, however, the adult collectors probably drive a massive percentage of Jellycat sales.
Jellycat themselves say the toys are for people of all ages: “For a quarter of a century, we have shared the joy of Jellycat toys with people of all ages, across the globe. Over this time, our unmistakable characters have gained the affection of millions – and centre stage in many of the most prestigious stores across 77 countries.”
For the launch of Siofra Shamrock, (grownup) Irish influencers were invited to Brown Thomas on Grafton Street ahead of the crowds and also to an event in The Westbury. However some were told they could not bring their children as it was an adults-only event for the toy launch.
Jellycats to Gen Z and Gen Alpha are what Beanie Babies were to Gen X and Millenials.
For example, Siofra Shamrock is priced at €30 with Brown Thomas and Arnotts, though sold out online, but a quick search of eBay shows the toy with asking prices of €81, €120, €130, and €200 — and this is just the week of its release.
Other rare Jellycats fetch large sums when resold. The Poloneck Peeker Posse Bat, a rare, retired bat wearing a purple polo neck jumper, is on eBay for €773. A “never played with” Snowy Bear Jellycat also sold on Etsy last October for €434.57 and they have been known to sell for over €1,000 due to their scarcity.
