Our Story & Values

Our Story:

My name is Cíara and I live in housing-crisis Dublin, but I was born in the salt-stung hills of Wexford, where I grew up with a gaggle of dogs.

My love for animals was instilled in me by my mother, and if there is one constant in my life, it’s my love of trudging through fields, dog in tow. There’s a kind of spell woven into the Irish landscape, mythologised and unyielding. It’s something words can’t quite capture, and better writers than me have tried.

The idea for Mac Tíre came from my lurcher, Cú. Over the past six years, since she was a gangly pup, we’ve roamed through five countries, living in both Ireland and Belgium. Everywhere we went, I searched for sustainable gear that was made to last, but in post-Brexit Ireland, where even the basics come at too high a cost, everything I found felt soulless—cheap, wasteful and mass-produced. It felt strange, in a country where dogs are cherished, immortalised in our poetry and folklore, there wasn’t a platform offering something better for them, one that also safeguarded the land and sea we call home.

And so, Mac Tíre was born. Meaning “wolf” in Irish and translating directly to “Son of the Land,” reflecting the bond between dogs and this ancient terrain. The name is also a nod to those of us who walk the dogs—ramblers across a landscape that shape us as much as we shape it.

In Ireland, walking and hiking aren't just something we do; it’s who we are. This beautiful and unforgiving land is always present, even in urban spaces, the mountains loom over concrete and the Atlantic rain batters down. We are a nation of rovers, and Mac Tíre is here to honour that connection between people, dogs, and the wild places we share.

Our Values and Philosophy:

At Mac Tíre, I am deeply inspired by the principles of socialism, striving for a world rooted in equality, cooperation, and collective well-being. I recognise the contradiction of operating a small business within a capitalist system while holding these beliefs. However, as we work within the system we have, I aim to align my practices with my values as much as possible.

This means prioritising fairness, accessibility and sustainability. Mac Tíre is a woman-owned brand that believes in community, decoloniality, the right to roam, ecological conservation, and animal liberation.

Every product you see on this shop is sustainably made in Europe. I have carefully hand-picked every product with your dog’s safety and well-being in mind. Everything has been made by individuals much like myself—people who wanted better for their dogs, the planet, and the people. We use recycled materials, eco-friendly packaging, and offset our carbon footprint to minimise our environmental impact. Beyond this, Mac Tíre will foster community by collaborating with local artists and supporting non-profits.

Thank you for supporting a (very) small business with a big vision.