Games maker Gosling Gifts and Games floats new memory matching product

A West Cork company is building on 28 years of success as an independent games and gifts producer with the launch of another innovative family game.

‘Ark Buddies: Noah’s Memory Game’ is the latest product from Clonakilty-based Gosling Gifts and Games.

Mary Gosling, co-founder of the company, said: “Stockists and customers love our new family game which invites players to test their memory by matching fun animal cards and placing them in a 3D Noah’s Ark.

“They say the game has simplicity and the cards, designed by artist William Helps from Rosscarbery, are so attractive and funny. They love the fact that players make their own ark.”

She added: “The game is something children can relate to, they can relate to the animals and the ark.”

Along with husband Graham Gosling, the pair set up the company in 1987, the year they launched the best-selling family board game, Discovering Ireland.

Mary said: “It took off from there. I thought it would be one game, but the question after each Christmas from shops was ‘what new products will you have this year’ and that’s how it started.”

The company has extended its product range over the years, designing and manufacturing jigsaw puzzles based on Irish history and legends, the ‘Make it! Bake it!’ collection of puzzles and recipes, Celtic magnets and mirrors, mugs, coasters, tea towels, prints and greeting cards.

“Discovering Ireland and Discovering Europe are evergreens,” Mary said.

“We’re competing with the huge multinationals; we’re competing with companies who have mega advertising funds and we don’t.”

Yet, the company, she said, is thriving. n

www.goslinggiftsandgames.com