Jewellers celebrate bumper season

The festive shopping period might not have been the glittering revival of consumer confidence retailers hoped for, but one sector has kept its sparkle.

Jewellers are declaring this Christmas a little gem with significant rise in the numbers coming through their doors, even if customers are being extra careful about how much they spend.

Patrick Keane of Keanes Jewellers in Cork, Limerick and Killarney, said there was a big difference in atmosphere compared with the last few Christmasses.