Kilkenny's best craft & design businesses set for 2026

Some of Kilkenny’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 January 18 to 20.   

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; Gail Daniels of Bó Bar Soap, a family-run business dedicated to creating natural, sustainable, handmade products of handmade cow’s milk soap, and Cait Mackey Maher of Yellow Deer Designs, an Irish illustration brand on a heartfelt mission: to pass paper joy and create meaningful connections through art.  

A pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar, Showcase Ireland 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 Kilkenny include the likes of Andriana Tsankova of Valley of Roses and Heather Byrne of Wildflower Designs. 

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 Kilkenny has been working with Bó Bar Soap and Yellow Deer Designs on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.    

Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise in Kilkenny County Council’s Local Enterprise Office 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.”

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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. We are delighted to congratulate Bó Bar Soap on their shortlisting as a finalist in this year’s awards.

For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices and the supports they can provide, please visit LocalEnterprise.ie/Kilkenny