Maguire is the most numerous surname in County Fermanagh, and few Irish names are tied so closely to one place. The Maguires were the kings of Fermanagh for more than three centuries, ruling the lakelands of the Erne and, from the fifteenth century, holding the island castle at Enniskillen. Whether you're shopping for a Maguire, a McGuire (the spelling many American branches adopted) or a MacGuire, here's our guide to heritage gifts fit for the lords of the lakes. Everything below is in our McGuire and Maguire Irish family gifts collection.
The Kings of Fermanagh
The Maguire name comes from the Irish Mag Uidhir, "son of Odhar," the dun-colored one. From the late thirteenth century the family ruled Fermanagh as patrons of poets and physicians, and Enniskillen Castle, built by Hugh "the Hospitable" Maguire in the early 1400s, commanded the waterways of Lough Erne. Hugh Maguire opened the Nine Years' War in 1593 and was killed near Cork in 1600; his half-brother Cú Chonnacht arranged the ship for the Flight of the Earls in 1607. The dynasty fell, but the name never left its lakeland home. We cover the history in two articles: the Maguire surname history and the McGuire surname history.
Pick the Spelling Your Family Uses
Maguire, McGuire and MacGuire are one name, and our range carries all three. Each item shows one spelling in its design, so choose the piece that carries the spelling on your family's mailbox. McGuire has the widest range, from blankets to a license plate. Maguire has a woven blanket, a mug, a garden flag and a Celtic harp tee. MacGuire has a woven blanket, a mug and the House of MacGuire garden flag.
The Woven Blanket: The Heirloom Gift
The flagship gift is a woven blanket with the family crest and the Irish National Tartan formed in the weave rather than printed on top, with fringed edges and three sizes from a 52" × 37" lap throw to a full 80" × 60" couch blanket. It comes in every spelling: the McGuire woven blanket in premium cotton yarn, the Maguire heirloom woven blanket in 100% cotton, and the MacGuire woven blanket in 100% cotton with a color-negative reverse.
Who it suits: parents and grandparents, a Maguire wedding couple, or the relative who's stood on the bridge at Enniskillen and looked up at the castle. They'll understand immediately.
Woven Blanket or Printed Throw?
For a lighter, lower-priced option, the McGuire printed tartan throw is 100% polyester, 50" × 60", printed on one side with a white reverse and hemmed edges. It's the one for a dorm room, the car or the bleachers; the woven blanket is the one to hand down.
The Mug: The Lakeland Daily Cup
For birthdays, stockings and everyday gestures, the crest mug carries the Fermanagh story at an easy price. All three are 11 oz ceramic accent mugs with the crest on the Irish National Tartan: the McGuire mug in white with a black handle, rim and interior, the Maguire mug with black trim, and the MacGuire mug with a black handle and interior.
More Ways to Give the Maguire Name
- Garden flags: the crest flying out front and a housewarming favorite. Choose the McGuire garden flag, the Maguire garden flag or the House of MacGuire garden flag, each in 12" × 18" or 24.5" × 32" (pole not included).
- Two ornament styles: the McGuire ceramic ornament is a 3-inch round printed on both sides, while the McGuire framed ornament is a polished silver-tone frame with a satin ribbon. Buy one of each and alternate years.
- For the home bar: the McGuire cork coaster set, square coasters with the crest on the Irish National Tartan.
- For the garage: the McGuire novelty license plate, aluminum, 12" × 6", with a knight on horseback over the Irish flag.
- Tees: the McGuire historic emblem tee on a Bella Canvas 3001 in sizes XS to XL, the McGuire family crest tee in sizes up to 3XL, and the Maguire Celtic harp tee on a Gildan 64000 Softstyle.
Matching the Gift to the Occasion
Christmas: the woven blanket as the centerpiece; mugs and ornaments for the wider list. Father's Day and Mother's Day: a crest gift honors the parent who handed down a king's name. Weddings: a woven blanket in the couple's own spelling for a new household. Roots trips: a tee for the Fermanagh pilgrimage. Sympathy: a dignified way to honor a Maguire who has passed.
Put the Story in the Card
Kings of Fermanagh for over three hundred years, an island castle on the Erne, a lord who started a war and another who chartered the ship for the Flight of the Earls: the lines are in the Maguire surname history. If the family tree runs through Fermanagh, the McManus history covers the Maguires' own kin who took a separate name, and the Cassidy history covers the hereditary physicians who served the Maguire lords for generations.
Maguire Gift FAQ
What is the best gift for someone named Maguire?
For milestone occasions, the family crest woven blanket is the heirloom piece. For everyday gifting, a crest mug or ornament carries the same story at a smaller price.
Maguire or McGuire: which should I buy?
Buy the spelling the person uses. Both come from Mag Uidhir of Fermanagh, and McGuire became the common American form. Our collection carries McGuire, Maguire and MacGuire, and each item names its spelling in the title.
What is a family crest?
A family crest is the emblem a family displays with its name, and our designs set it on the Irish National Tartan. Our family crest guide explains the history of Irish heraldry.
What if the family tree also includes other surnames?
Yes. Our catalog covers over 2,000 Irish and Scottish names, so every branch of the family tree can have its own gift.