Two of Donegal’s finest 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 the Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2024 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 21-23rd 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.
One of the Donegal creatives attending Showcase is Bundoran’s Kevin Lowery, a versatile coastal painter who draws inspiration from a lifetime by the sea. His art spans various mediums and his offerings include original pieces, limited and open edition prints and greeting cards. With works in diverse collections, Kevin exhibits internationally and has collaborated with a number of high street retailers and well-known hotels. Represented by galleries worldwide, his expressive style captures Ireland’s coastal beauty.
The second business attending Showcase is award winning aromatherapy business, I AM SELF-CARE, founded by Edelle Harrigan-Edgar an Essential Oil Specialist and Certified Aromatherapist. Edelle's products are handmade and expertly blended by herself at her home in Donegal and created to support your self-care and wellbeing. In her products she uses 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oils and the finest butters and oils which are vegan and organic.
Showcase is a pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar and 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.
With the support of Local Enterprise Office Donegal, other Donegal Showcase participants in recent years include knitwear designer, Edel MacBride, Condie, an Irish production design company founded by Kevin Callaghan, and Donegal designer, April Rose Murphy. Isobel Sangha from the Donegal Natural Soap Company, the team from John Collins Designs, and Laura McDowell of Papertree also exhibited at Showcase in recent years.
In 2023 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 2024.
Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Donegal, said: “Showcase Ireland provides Donegal businesses and designers with a huge opportunity and is the ideal place for our two Donegal businesses, Creative Coast member Kevin Lowery and Edelle Harrigan-Edgar of I AM SELF-CARE, to share their beautiful Donegal brands and creativity with the world.”
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 Local Enterprise Office Donegal and the supports they can provide, please visit LocalEnterprise.ie/Donegal
