National showcase provides platform for six Galway local craft producers

 Six small craft businesses from Galway will take the big step to showcase their products to international buyers within the ‘Enterprise Zone’ at this year’s Showcase event, which takes place in the RDS Dublin from January 19 to 22.

The Galway companies exhibiting include Bernadine Burke from Friends & Family Trees; Alex & Joanna from OlyArt; Lol McClean from Island Designs/Artisan Inishbofin; Catherine Dunne from Irish Greeting Cards; Brian Cahill from Amilie Designs and Roisin Gregory from Ceramic Arts.

Galway County & City Enterprise Board CEO Breda Fox described this as an immense step towards allowing them access new Irish and International markets.

“A number of these local producers gained their first show experience at the LOCAL Food and Craft Fair, held in the Black Box Theatre, hosted by Galway Enterprise Board in 2012 and 2013. Supported by the Galway County & City Enterprise Board Ltd., exhibitors in the Enterprise Zone will have the opportunity to meet both Irish and International buyers at Showcase,” she said. 

Organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland, the annual creative expo is valued by industry experts as one of the most important trade events for Ireland’s craft sector and runs from Sunday, 19th January to Wednesday, 22nd January. Since 2010, the number of small craft businesses exhibiting in the zone has almost tripled from 35 to almost 100 in 2014.

In 2010, the County and City Enterprise Boards supported 35 small businesses at Showcase through subsidised stands, rising to 50 in 2011 and 57 in 2012, before reaching 75 craft businesses last year.

Showcase is promoted internationally by the Enterprise Boards in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and further details are available from www.enterpriseboards.ie and www.showcaseireland.com