Six Meath Entrepreneurs Attending Showcase

Some of County Meath’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 the Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2023 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 22-24th 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.

The 6 businesses from Meath include Siobhán Daly Designs, Bríd Fanning Art, Deeca Design, Marion Petherbridge Art, An Gobha IronWorks & Experience & MAR Fragrances. 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.

Brid Fanning from Art from Meath

Recent participants from Meath include the likes of Clare O’Connor who will be showcasing her 100% Silk Dresses which she launched in 2022 at Create in Brown Thomas. Clare has recently been appointed Chair of the newly established Meath Craft Network which will launch later this Spring. In 2022 there were thousands of buyers from 25 countries in attendance at the event in the RDS and it is expected this will increase again in 2023 following the lifting of Covid restrictions that were still in place early last year. Local Enterprise Office Meath has been working with all 6 clients on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.

One to One Mentoring with specialist mentors also ensures the business owners are ready to take advantage of opportunities presented at Showcase. Caoimhe Delany, Business Advisor at LEO Meath - believes this is an opportunity like no other for up-andcoming 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.

Deirdre Caulfield from Deeca from Meath

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.” “2023 is a very exciting year for Craft, Designer Makers in Meath as a newly established Craft Collective will be launching in Spring/Summer, we look forward to raising the profile of the craft, designer makers based in Meath to both national and international markets” Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland said:

“We at Design & Crafts Council Ireland are greatly looking forward to the return of our international trade fair, Showcase 2023. Showcase offers designers and makers the opportunity to not only meet and do business with buyers from Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe and Asia, but also the chance to come together to celebrate the creativity, the impact and the importance of the heritage of the Irish craft and design sector globally.With restrictions linked to the pandemic due to be fully lifted for Showcase 2023, we look forward to even more buyer attendance this year.”

Siobhan Daly Designs from Meath 

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 Further Information On: • Registering for Showcase 2023 visit: www.showcaseireland.com • Meath Craft Collective email: caoimhe.delany@meathcoco.ie • Supports available to Small Business in Meath visit: www.localenterprise.ie/Meath

Deeca Design

Deeca Design, owned by Deirdre Caulfield from Carnaross, Kells, is a collection of handcrafted Jewellery inspired by architecture and nature. The collection is made from sustainably sourced hardwoods, 18K to 24K gold finished brass, sterling silver and freshwater pearls. Thanks to LEO Meath and Showcase, Deeca Design is now stocked in 22 shops nationwide. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to exhibit again with you in the LEO Village at Showcase 2023 to introduce a new collection to both potential and existing stockists and to further the growth and development of the brand. I want to thank LEO Meath and Showcase for being a huge part in getting Deeca Design to where we are today”, says Deirdre. Facebook : Deeca Design | Instagram : Deeca Design

Marion Petherbridge

Marion Petherbridge Art

Speaking to Marion, she says “Painting is my passion and I take inspiration from all around me. I’ve been following my dream of being an artist for the past 25 years working from my studio in Ratoath, Co. Meath. My love of sea and the Irish coastline is what inspires me the most. I try to encapsulate the ever changing movement of both the sky and sea in my paintings. Being able to convey this through the use of Oils, Acrylics and Mixed Media is really magical for me. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I did creating it.” Marion’s work has been sold to clients all over the world from the Middle East, Africa, Australia, USA & Europe.

Website : www.MarionPetherbridgeArt.com Instagram : Marion Petherbridge Art

Siobhán Daly Designs

Siobhan Daly Designs

Siobhán Daly Designs is a multi-award winning Irish jewellery and accessories slow fashion brand, designed and handcrafted in Meath. Customers are those who wish to be uplifted by colour and design, accessories to make them look and feel good, with an appreciation for the long tradition of handcrafted Irish design. Each piece is individually handcrafted in bold, strong colours and textures, in contemporary designs. Inspired by the Irish landscape and our natural surroundings while emphasising the movement towards circular design, the entire collection is made with a sustainable approach and through an environmentally conscious lens.

Taking pieces of genuine leather deemed too small for the leather industry, responsibly, sustainably, and ethically sourced, designs are made from pieces that would otherwise be discarded, hence having an environmental impact on waste minimisation. Pieces are made using beautiful Italian grain or nappa leather with an 18k gold or platinum plate finish. Designs are completely unique, eye catching, modern and made to make a statement, all presented in a signature branded gift box. Facebook : Siobhán Daly Designs Instagram : Siobhán Daly Designs

Website : www.siobhandalydesigns.com

An Gobha Iron Works & Experience

An Gobha Iron Works & Experience

An Gobha offers immersive and interactive experiences of traditional iron age metal forging, as demonstrated by the character An Gobha, the blacksmith, delivered with theatre, stories, myths, history and craic. An Gobha also manufactures and sells handcrafted metal decorative objects based on ancient Celtic symbols and artefacts of the Boyne Valley, Ancient East. Tom is a full time Blacksmith Artist that specialises in reproduction of early Celtic Iron Works, Blades and Commissions. “I also entertain guests and conduct experiences at the Workhouse and the Forge of the smooth road, Slighe Assail, Bohermeen, County Meath. Working hot iron in the style of the ancestors at the heart of the Boyne Valley, in Ireland’s Ancient East. With the forge burning brightly, the hammer strikes red hot iron upon the anvil to rhythm keeping an age-old tradition alive. I use ancient skills to replicate early Celtic artefacts, creating spectacular artwork and Celtic jewellery from my atmospheric forge located in rural Meath” says Tom. Visitors can now enjoy an enjoy an unforgettable Iron Works Experience in the forge of An Gobha. Starting his business after the first lockdown in 2020, Tom has gone on to also be shortlisted for the Meath Business & Tourism Awards 2022. Instagram : tomking001 Youtube : Live Irish Myths In Conversation episode #14: Tom King, ‘An Gobha’

Brid Fanning Art

Bríd Fanning Art

Based from Oldcastle, in Co. Meath. and working from her home studio, Bríd creates art while reconnecting with Irish history and reimagining things visually in her own unique style. “Whether it’s our people, animals or our landscape, I like to express who we are through bold colour. I create original art in oils & cold wax and acrylics. From these I produce archival museum quality limited editions prints. I also create beautiful soft velvet cushions that use eco inks and are made here in Ireland and create unique Irish art bags that are made from recycled plastic bags. I have sold internationally to the Irish diaspora in Australia, United States, Canada, UK and mainland Europe as well as strong sales here at home in Ireland.” Bríd exhibited at Art Source in the RDS last November for the first time with support of Meath Arts Office and Creative Ireland. Instagram : BridFanningArt | Facebook : BridFanningArt

Website: www.bridfanningart.com

MAR Fragrances

MAR Fragrances

Owner operated MAR Fragrances is an Irish female home fragrance brand. MAR Fragrances sell luxurious candles, reed diffusers and wax melts. The candles and wax melts are made from 100% natural soy wax, premium fragrances and a natural cotton wick. Megan Roche, based near Kilcock, Co. Meath explains, “This allows our candles and wax melts to be non toxic for our customers and their pets as well as give a clean burn with little to no black soot”. MAR Fragrances range of products are premium, vegan, eco friendly, pet friendly, clean burning and non toxic.

Website : www.marfragrances.ie

Photo by Martin O'Brien