Press Release
Tuesday, January 12th 2016
Kildare Design and Craft Businesses Target International Buyers
The network of Local Enterprise Offices has unveiled 97 different design and craft businesses,
including local businesses, aiming to impress 5,000 buyers visiting the ‘Enterprise Zone’ at Showcase
in Dublin later this month.
The small craft and design businesses, representing 22 counties around Ireland, have all been
supported by their Local Enterprise Office, making it possible for them to sell to international retail
buyers from more than twenty countries such as the US, France, Japan, China and Italy.
Kildare will be represented by four craft and design businesses within the Enterprise Zone, which
include: Ken & Trish Greene of KT Metal Design Leixlip, Laurence Harney of The Bog Oak Studio
Clane, Karin Lang of Nature’s Glow Straffan and Joanna Doyle of Joanna Doyle Ceramics
Castledermot.
Showcase at the RDS runs from January 24th to 27th and is the first major trade event of the year,
organised by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and promoted internationally by Enterprise
Ireland. The dedicated Enterprise Zone on the balcony area, co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise
Offices, has become known as the home for emerging designers and craftspeople in recent years.
A wide range of creative sectors will be represented within the Enterprise Zone this month, such as
ceramics, knitwear, jewellery, interiors, skincare and giftware. Mary Foley from Local Enterprise
Office Kildare said: “Thanks to practical business supports through the Local Enterprise Office in the
Local Authority, our local craft and design businesses are well-placed to secure substantial
international orders during the four days of Showcase, helping them grow and expand into new
markets.”
She added: “On a year-round basis, there are lots of other supports available to the craft and design
sector locally. These include financial assistance, microfinance loans, trading online vouchers,
mentoring, business advice clinics and training programmes, which are all available through the
Local Enterprise Office.”
According to figures from Indecon*, well over 5,000 people work in the craft sector in Ireland with
plenty of opportunities for small companies to grow and for new enterprises to start-up.
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland said: “We are delighted to
be working once again with the Local Enterprise Offices in introducing Irish and international buyers
to the latest exciting products from emerging Irish designers and makers at Showcase. This annual
trade show, which is now in its 40th year, is instrumental in promoting Ireland’s well recognised
strengths for design and creativity to buyers from Ireland and over 20 countries around the
world. I would like to commend and thank the Local Enterprise Offices for supporting small craft and
design businesses in participating in the Enterprise Zone at Showcase. The exhibiting companies
represent the wealth of creative talent in Ireland today and this dedicated area at Showcase plays a
critical role in helping emerging Irish entrepreneurs develop their business and expand their client
base.”
The Enterprise Zone is located along the Balcony Area of the RDS Main Hall at Showcase, which is
open to trade buyers from Sunday, January 24th to Wednesday, January 27th. Further information
around the Enterprise Zone at Showcase is available through www.showcaseireland.com and
www.localenterprise.ie.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
For all media queries around the Enterprise Zone at Showcase, please contact your Local
Enterprise Office.
*Source: Indecon International Economic Consultants Report (October 2013) “Economic Analysis of the Current Status and
Future Clustering Potential for the Crafts Industry in Ireland”. According to this report, 5, 321 people are employed in the
craft sector in Ireland (as of 2012)
Designers and Makers Exhibiting within the Enterprise Zone at Showcase in the RDS (Jan 24th – 27th 2016)
Supported by the Local Enterprise Offices in the Local Authorities Network
From the County of Carlow
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Carlow
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
JEWELLERY
Bolina
F15
HOME & GIFT
Rara Photography
F14
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
Sealed with Irish Love
F68
Clare
FASHION & JEWELLERY
Celtic Fusion Design
F69
Clare
HOME & GIFT
Airmid Natural Irish Skincare
F70
Clare
HOME & GIFT
Avokado & Co
F71
From the County of Cork
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Ocean Bloom
F78
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Loominations Irish Custom Throws
F79
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Little Red Skincare
F80
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Little Green Dot
F81
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Craftek
F82
Cork County and City
JEWELLERY
Angela O’Keefe Jewellery
F83
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Waters + Wild
F84
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Olive Murphy Designs
F85
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Aurora Natural Skincare
F87
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
O’Dea Irish Art
F88
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
Seymours Irish Biscuits
F89
Cork County and City
HOME & GIFT
My Stones
F90
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
Donegal Pottery
F24
Carlow
From the County of Clare
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Clare
From the County of Donegal
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Donegal
Donegal
From the County of Dublin
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Dublin City
Dublin City
Dublin City
Dublin City
Dublin City
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown
Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown
Fingal
Fingal
Fingal
Fingal
South Dublin
From the County of Galway
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Galway
Galway
Galway
Galway
From the County of Kerry
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Kerry
Kerry
Kerry
Kerry
From the County of Kildare
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Kildare
Kildare
Kildare
Kildare
From the County of Laois
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Laois
Laois
From the County of Leitrim
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Leitrim
Leitrim
Leitrim
Leitrim
Leitrim
From the County of Limerick
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
HOME & GIFT
Irish Furniture Store
F25
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Lorna Gaffney White Design
LouLouBelle Design
Aria-V Jewellery
Wild by Water
Lainey K
Shirley Copperwhite Designs
Melanie Hand Design Jewellery
Killiney Arts
Clonlea Design
James Joyce Jewellery
Berry Be Beauty
Tracy Gilbert Design
Fab Cow Design
Green Angel
F35
F36
F34
F33
F37
F4
F5
F6
F7
F20
F21
F22
F23
F1
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Turnstone Pottery
Friends and Family Trees
Michael Vignoles Bodhrans
Pippablue
F74
F75
F76
F77
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
FASHION & JEWELLERY
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
FASHION & JEWELLERY, HOME &
GIFT
Kerry Woollen Mills
Made4U
Muckross Bookbinding
Amélie Gagné Studio
F10/F11
F12
F13
F13
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
The Bog Oak Sculpture
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Joanna Doyle
Nature’s Glow
KT Metal Design
F48
F48
F48
F48
F48
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Edyta ART
Rose and Alice
Handcrafted Soaps and Gifts
F58
F58
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Leitrim Pottery
The Leitrim Design House
Jean Whitfield Jewellery
Jo Gray Collections
Roy Humphreys Woodturning
F41/F42
F41/F42
F41/F42
F41/F42
F41/F42
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Cill Seannaig Coillteach
Brid O'Kane
Homeland Candles
Ballyhoura Ceramics
F64
F64
F64
F64
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
From the County of Louth
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Louth
Louth
Louth
Form the County of Mayo
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Mayo
Mayo
Mayo
Mayo
From the County of Meath
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Meath
Meath
Meath
Meath
From the County of Monaghan
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Monaghan
Monaghan
From the County of Offaly
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Offaly
Offaly
From the County of Roscommon
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon
From the County of Sligo
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Sligo
Sligo
Sligo
Sligo
From the County of Tipperary
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary
From the County of Westmeath
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Westmeath
Westmeath
FASHION
JEWELLERY
FASHION & JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
Daiva's Textiles
Fergus Grant-Stevenson
Susan McCarthy Designs
Moon River Chocolates
F64
F64
F64
F64
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
JEWELLERY, HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Orla Barry Art
Finca Skin Organics
Duinn Designs
F8/F9
F8/F9
F8/F9
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Celtic Slang
The Mood Designs
Rainbow Stained Glass
Padraig McCaul Images
F26
F27
F28
F29
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
F16
F17
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Big Red Kitchen
Noreen Walshe
Art & Photography
Soilse Candles
Colette Gough Craft
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Cooper Handcrafted Furniture
Painted Clans
F91
F92
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
FASHION
Mojo Creations
Rita Daly Designs
F61
F63
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Naomh Padraig Handcrafts
Vera Gaffney
Ogham Wishes & Bog Buddies
F47
F73
F72
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Nature Saponified
Colm Brennan Woodturner
Katie + Maud
Ian Carty Ceramics
F45
F46
F46
F43
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
Jane Ryan Fashion Illustration
Johnny McCarthy Woodturning
Deborah Hickey Ceramics
F30
F31
F32
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
MW Jewellery
Jeanette Everson
Handmade Ceramics
F55
F56
F18
F19
From the County of Wexford
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Wexford
Wexford
Wexford
From the County of Wicklow
Local Enterprise Office in Local
Authority
Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
FASHION
FASHION & JEWELLERY
Pauline Quigley
Kymaia
Liwu Jewellery
F38
F39
F40
Category
Exhibitor Name
Stand N°
HOME & GIFT
JEWELLERY
HOME & GIFT
HOME & GIFT
The Crafty Bird
Amoc Jewellery
Hairy Fruit Art
Geraldine Leonard
F51
F52
F53
F54