Media Release

12 January 2026

TIPPERARY’S BEST CRAFT & DESIGN BUSINESSES SET FOR SHOWCASE 2026

Some of Tipperary’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 the 18th – 20th 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.

This year, three businesses from Tipperary will exhibit at The Local Enterprise Showcase area at the annual exhibition. These include Two-Mile-Borris based Rachel McCormack, First & Down, a premium athleisure and lounge wear brand, founded based on the phrase ‘feel the fear and doing it anyway’. The brand promotes finding comfort outside your comfort zone and aims to spread awareness about mental health with a portion of profits donated to mental health charities in Ireland.

The second enterprise is GG Designs based in Rosegreen where it’s founder Gillian Gubbins crafts sustainable jewellery and home décor using waste materials such as mussel & scallop shells, fabrics and reclaimed leather.  The metal used is made from stainless steel and sterling silver making all the products hypoallergenic.  Finally, Maura Bourke T/a The Messy Brunette will exhibit her vibrant handmade jewellery created at her Thurles based studio. The range includes lightweight statement earrings made from sustainable materials fusing age-old techniques such as decoupage and intricate hand-inking with modern processes such as UV printing, laser cutting and eco-resin finishing. 

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.

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.

Head of Enterprise, Anthony Fitzgerald 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.”

Showcase 2026, 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.

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

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For further information, please contact:

Anthony Fitzgerald

Head of Enterprise & Economic Development

LEO Tipperary

Ballingarrane House

Clonmel

Tel: 052 616 6200