Westmeath’s best craft and design businesses set for showcase 2025

Some of Westmeath’s best up and coming craft workers and designers will be among colleagues from 100-plus companies meeting buyers from all over the world as part of Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2025 Showcase event in the RDS on January 19-21.

An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the showcase, houses a range of Ireland’s newest design talent.

Among the locals involved are Teddy Ireland in Killucan, owned by Arlene Heffernan, who offer Irish designed themed products perfect for Irish locals and tourists seeking gifts. JewelryEffect, Mount Temple, was founded and is owned by designer Evgeniia Iurchenko, who crafts unique jewellery from scratch, using recycled precious metals and natural stones. Her pieces are available for purchase online and at various markets.

The showcase event draws thousands of buyers from Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa, and millions of euro of sales orders are generated during the show.

Showcase is presented on behalf of Design and Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the LEOs nationwide.

Recent participants from Westmeath include Bambrew, who are based in Milltownpass, and provide fun, ecofriendly products and alternatives to single use plastics. Dominic O’Brien, from Athlone is a talented artist and illustrator. Fox and Bell Goldsmiths from Athlone offer handmade and hand finished bespoke jewellery. IPI Teoranta in Athlone supply ready to wear living shamrock nationally and internationally and supply all major national and international events for St Patrick’s Day.

LEO Westmeath has been working with Arlene Heffernan (Teddy Ireland) and Evgeniia Iurchenko (JewelryEffect) on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.

Tracey Tallon, acting head of Enterprise, LEO Westmeath, said: “To be exposed to so many high-quality buyers in one place is an opportunity for any business starting out. If things go well at this event, businesses could fill their books for the year and could well establish partnerships that extend longer than that and help them grow.

“While that won’t happen for every business, just to be there, see other clients, get new ideas and develop their skills in marketing and sales will stand by them.”

This year all Local Enterprise Showcase clients were entered in the Business of Craft Awards, now in its second year, and designed to celebrate the businesses behind the craft and design products created across the country.

There are three categories: Best Newcomer, for a craft and design business exhibiting for the first time; One to Watch, for a business with excellent export and international potential; and Sustainability Champion, for a business excelling in sustainability.

The shortlisted finalists for this year’s awards are, in the Newcomer Category, SIOG Botanicals, supported by LEO Kildare, Incredible Socks, supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, and Mojo and Co, supported by LEO Louth.

In the One to Watch category, the finalists are Culu Design and One Dame Lane, both supported by LEO Wicklow, and Fussy Food Plates, supported by LEO South Dublin.

In the Sustainability Champion category, the finalists are WASI, supported by LEO Cork North and West, Rowena Sheen Jewellery, supported by LEO Clare, and Crafts of Ireland, supported by LEO Cavan.

This year, there is an additional award for Best Visual Business, to be judged at the event and awarded to the business with the best visual presence and branding at the event and also online.

The awards are Monday January 20 at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event.

Local Enterprise Offices

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 information on the Local Enterprise Offices and the supports they can provide, visit LocalEnterprise.ie.