Brady is one of the great Cavan names, carried out of the county to every corner of the English-speaking world, from parish registers to prime-time television. The name comes from Mac Brádaigh, the family whose chiefs held Cúil Bhríghde around Stradone. If you're shopping for a Brady or a MacBrady, here's our guide to the gifts in the Brady and MacBrady Irish family gifts collection and who each one suits.
The Chiefs of Cúil Bhríghde
The Brady name comes from the Irish Mac Brádaigh, son of Brádach, a name Woulfe reads as "spirited". The family held the district around Stradone, east of Cavan town, inside the O'Reilly kingdom of East Breifne, and gave the diocese of Kilmore a line of bishops and Cavan two Irish-language poets. Famine-era emigration carried Bradys across the Atlantic in huge numbers, where the name flourished. The full story is in our Brady surname history, worth a read before you write the card.
Woven or Printed: Choosing the Brady Blanket
The Brady woven blanket is the heirloom pick: the Brady family crest on the Irish National Tartan, woven into 100% cotton yarn rather than printed, with fringed edges. Three sizes run from a 52 × 37 inch display throw to a full 80 × 60 inch couch blanket, a Brady-bunch-sized spread of options.
Who it suits: parents and grandparents, a Brady wedding couple, or the relative tracing the line back toward Cavan. For a lighter, lower-priced option, the Brady printed tartan blanket is a 50 × 60 inch polyester throw with the crest printed on one side: good for a dorm room, a camper or the back of the sofa.
Brady or MacBrady?
Some families kept the Mac. If the name on the Christmas card reads MacBrady, choose the MacBrady woven blanket, the MacBrady mug or the House of MacBrady garden flag, each carrying the MacBrady name on the Irish National Tartan. Everyone else will want the Brady pieces below.
The Brady Mug — Everyday Heritage
For birthdays, stockings and smaller occasions, the Brady family crest mug carries the same Cavan story at an everyday price: an 11 oz white ceramic mug with a black handle and interior, used daily and kept for decades.
Two Ornaments, Two Styles
The ceramic ornament is a 3-inch round printed on both sides with a gold cord, so it looks right from any angle on the tree. The framed ornament sets the crest in a silver-tone portrait frame with a satin ribbon, and can stand on a mantel or desk after the tree comes down.
Everyday Brady Gifts
- Garden flag — for the Brady home that flies its colors; a housewarming staple.
- Cork coaster set — for the coffee table or the home bar.
- Crest T-shirt — Irish Green or Black, sizes S to 3XL, for reunions and match days.
- Novelty license plate — the Brady crest over the Irish flag, for the car or the garage wall.
Matching the Gift to the Occasion
Christmas: the woven blanket as the centerpiece; mugs and ornaments for the wider list. Father's Day & Mother's Day: a crest gift honors the parent who handed the name down. Weddings: a woven blanket for a new Brady household. Game days: for the family's quarterback of any code, the T-shirt needs no explanation. Sympathy: a quiet, respectful way to honor a Brady who has passed.
Put the Story in the Card
Chiefs of Cúil Bhríghde, bishops of Kilmore and the poets of Stradone: the lines are in the Brady surname history. If the family tree runs through Cavan and Breifne, the O'Reilly history covers the kings who ruled East Breifne, and the Sheridan history covers Cavan's other famous literary name.
Brady Gift FAQ
What is the best gift for someone named Brady?
For milestone occasions, the Brady woven blanket is the heirloom piece. For everyday gifting, the Brady mug or one of the two ornaments carries the same story at a smaller price.
Are there MacBrady gifts as well as Brady?
Yes. The MacBrady woven blanket, MacBrady mug and House of MacBrady garden flag carry the Mac form of the name, which comes from the same Mac Brádaigh root.
What is an Irish family crest?
It is the family shield design we set on the Irish National Tartan for each name. Our family crest guide explains how crests and heraldry fit together.
Do you carry the other names in a Brady family tree?
Yes. The catalog covers over 2,000 names, including the O'Reilly and Sheridan names that share Brady's Cavan roots.