12/01/2026
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Some of South Dublin’s best up and coming craft and design businesses will be part of over 100 companies from across Ireland who will get a chance to meet with buyers from all over the world as part of Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2026 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 18th – 20th January.
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the Local Enterprise Showcase, is a special area at Showcase that houses a range of Ireland’s newest design talent. Representing LEO South Dublin are the following businesses: Gabriela Baptista from Crea with Baby with creative stationery for journaling and planning, Arzu Gorbil from The Crochet Dolls with handmade crochet dolls and gifts, Paul Brereton from Facet Ireland, Irish made jewellery, Tanya Byrne from Daisy & Tanya, hand-made designed luxury hair accessories for children for special occasions.
The event, which is a pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar, will open its doors to thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa, generating millions of euros of sales orders during the show.
Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.
Recent participants from South Dublin include the likes of Flaunta, Vegan Bags and Purses, Forager, Organic Beauty Products, Bear’s Little Fish, Sustainable Baby Clothing, Fussy Food Plates, Children’s Aid for Mealtimes, Donna McGee, Fine Art and Thomas’s Trendy Socks, Sock Company.
In 2025 there were thousands of national and international buyers in attendance at the event in the RDS and it is expected this will increase again in 2026.
Local Enterprise Office South Dublin has been working with Gabriela Baptista, Arzu Gorbil, Paul Bereton and Tanya Byrne on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.
Peter Connolly A/Head of Enterprise South Dublin, believes this is an opportunity like no other for up-and-coming craft and design clients looking to make that break through. “To be exposed to this many high-quality buyers in one place is an incredible opportunity for any business starting out. If things go well at this event, a business could fill their book for the year and may well establish a partnership that could extend longer than that and help them grow. While that won’t happen for every business, just to be here, see other clients, get new ideas and develop their skills in marketing and sales will stand by them going forward.”
This year all Local Enterprise Showcase clients were entered into the Business of Craft Awards. This is the third year of the awards that celebrate the business behind the amazing craft and design products that are created across the country.
The awards have three categories; Best Newcomer for the best craft and design business who is exhibiting for the first time, One to Watch for the best craft and design business who has excellent export and international potential and finally Sustainability Champion for the best craft and design business who is excelling in sustainability.
The full breakdown of shortlisted finalists for this year’s awards are, in the Newcomer Category, Beyond the Ferns supported by LEO Wicklow, Bó Bar Soap supported by LEO Kilkenny and Carmel Grant Designs supported by LEO Waterford. In the One to Watch category the finalists are Appleberry Atelier supported by LEO Wicklow, Polly & Andy supported by LEO Waterford and CAYO supported by LEO Limerick.
And in the Sustainability Champion category the finalists are EcoKinly supported by LEO Wexford, Bean Around supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown and WASI Seaweed supported by LEO Cork North and West. The awards will take place Monday, 19th January at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event.
Showcase 2026, which is a pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar, will open its doors to thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa, generating millions of euros of sales orders during the show. Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.
Local Enterprise Showcase is one of several enterprise initiatives run by the Local Enterprise Offices across the year to foster entrepreneurship and help small businesses to start and grow. Other events include Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme and the Local Enterprise Village as part of the National Ploughing Championships.
For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices and the supports they can provide, please visit Local Enterprise Office South Dublin at: www.localenterprise.ie/southdublin.
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For further information, please contact:
Local Enterprise Office South Dublin.
Email: info@leo.southdublincoco.ie
Tel: 01 4149215