Remember the Sweet Shop?
There was a time when a few coins in your pocket meant a trip to the local sweet shop, eyes wide at rows of jars filled with colourful boiled sweets, penny chews, and fizzy sherbet. For many of us in Ireland, those memories are tied to specific sweets — the ones we grew up with, the ones our parents loved before us.
Retro sweets are back in a big way. Whether you are filling a party bag, stocking up a sweet table for a wedding, or just craving something from your childhood, here is our guide to the best retro sweets you can buy online in Ireland.
Classic Irish Boiled Sweets
No retro sweet list would be complete without traditional boiled sweets. These hard candy favourites have been made the same way for decades:
- Alderwood Apple Drops — Crisp, fruity apple flavour from one of Ireland's best-known confectioners.
- Bulls Eyes — The classic black-and-white striped mint humbugs.
- Cola Cubes — Sweet, fizzy cola flavour in a hard candy cube. A proper throwback.
- Rhubarb & Custard — The tangy-sweet classic, available in AP Donnelly's gorgeous glass jars.
- Clove Rock — A distinctive, warming flavour that older generations swear by.
Swizzels: The Kings of Retro
Swizzels are responsible for more childhood memories than any other brand. Their range of chew bars, sherbet, and novelty sweets defined the Irish sweet shop:
- Love Hearts — The iconic candy with messages printed on each sweet. Still a favourite for Valentine's Day and party bags.
- Drumstick Chew Bars — The original raspberry and milk flavour combo.
- Wham Bars — Fizzy, chewy, and tongue-tinglingly sour.
- Refreshers — Tangy lemon sherbet chews that fizz on your tongue.
- Double Dip — Sherbet with a candy stick for dipping. Pure nostalgia.
- Fizzers — Fizzy fruit-flavoured tablets, perfect for sharing.
Chocolate Nostalgia
Some of the best retro sweets are chocolate-based. Hannahs Confectionery make some of Ireland's most nostalgic chocolate treats:
- Pink & White Mice — Milk chocolate mice with a smooth, sweet centre.
- Chocolate Spinning Tops — Foil-wrapped chocolate with a twist.
- Fish & Chips — White chocolate shaped like a chippy dinner.
Party Bags & Sweet Tables
Retro sweets are perfect for party bags and sweet tables. Buying in bulk means you can mix and match favourites, and at Party Sweets we stock most retro lines in full boxes or 3kg bulk bags — ideal for events, weddings, and birthday parties.
Pair classic chew bars with boiled sweets and a few novelty items like Brain Lickers or Candy Whistles, and you have a sweet table that covers every generation.
Buy Retro Sweets Online in Ireland
At Party Sweets, we stock the biggest range of retro sweets in Ireland — from Swizzels chew bars to Alderwood boiled sweets, Hannahs chocolate favourites, and more. All available to buy online with free delivery on orders over €60 across Ireland.
Browse our full Retro Sweets collection or check out our Bestsellers for the most popular picks.