Guaranteed Irish

Irish goods stores are rare outside the city; most towns settle for a single shelf of tea and whiskey at the gas station. Guaranteed Irish breaks that pattern on NY-145, where the two-lane road cuts through rolling pastures just east of East Durham. The shop sits at 2220 NY-145, a low-slung building you might miss if you blink—though the green awning helps.

What you’ll find inside isn’t the usual tourist kitsch; this is a small, women-owned operation stocking staples for anyone trying to keep a taste of home alive. Need a last-minute gift or a forgotten ingredient for Sunday dinner? A quick call to (518) 634-2392 can confirm what’s in stock before you make the drive. For directions, the map is here: https://www.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x89ddc9d612fb09bb:0x823cd04b023b05d5. The Catskills in late afternoon have a way of stretching shadows long across the pavement—perfect for a slow cruise back with a bag of biscuits or a bottle of something dark.