LEO Cork City's Craft & Design Businesses Set for Showcase 2026

14/01/2026

Some of LEO Cork City’s best up and coming craft and design businesses will be part of over 100 LEO businesses 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 18^th – 20^th January. 

An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the Local Enterprise Showcase is a special area at Showcase that houses a range of Ireland’s newest design talent. The businesses representing LEO Cork City at this year’s event are:

Local Enterprise Office, Cork City has been working with its abovementioned clients on marketing, sales techniques, and merchandising for their stands,  to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.   

Dr. Niall O’Keeffe, Head of Enterprise at Cork City Council believes this is an opportunity like no other for up-and-coming craft and design clients looking to make that breakthrough.

“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.”

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.

In addition to exhibiting, this year’s Local Enterprise Showcase clients were encouraged to enter 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.

ENDS

Additional Information

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

The Business of Craft Awards 2026 – Finalists

Category: Best Newcomer

• Beyond the Ferns supported by LEO Wicklow,
• Bó Bar Soap supported by LEO Kilkenny
• Carmel Grant Designs supported by LEO Waterford.

Category: One to Watch

• Appleberry Atelier supported by LEO Wicklow
• Polly & Andy supported by LEO Waterford
• CAYO supported by LEO Limerick

Category: Sustainability Champion

• EcoKinly supported by LEO Wexford
• Bean Around supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire– Rathdown
• WASI Seaweed supported by LEO Cork North and West

The Awards will take place Monday, 19^th January 2026 at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event.