My dear travellers and lovers of unusual travel and fashionistas, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. January and February will be dedicated to an unusual country in the heart of Western Europe, a country known for its greenest landscapes, St. Patrick’s Day, music, famous whiskey and quality wool – Ireland. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue of the Showcase Ireland event, I would like to thank Enterprise Ireland and Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in Ireland.
With their help, the travelogues from Ireland and fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read this January and February were created, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure. Today I will do my best to bring you closer to an exceptional event, Showcase Ireland, a three-day fair of Irish craft and design that celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
Fashion stories created during Showcase Ireland in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and local brands:
- Bonner of Ireland (luxury Irish knitwear) and George Horn (leather goods – gloves): LINK
- Mackintosh Ireland by Francis Campelli (luxury rainwear): LINK
Enterprise Ireland is an enterprise development agency established by the Irish government. This organization invests in and supports the development of Irish-owned companies on their journey to achieve greater scale and become global leaders in their field. This way of working and supporting provides a platform for strong economic growth and the creation and maintenance of jobs in communities across Ireland. Their teams in Ireland and across their international network of 39 international offices help Irish companies develop high growth strategies and enter new markets with innovative and sustainable solutions.
As an Irish government agency, Enterprise Ireland is committed to trade and innovation with a focus on the creative industries and consumer retail sectors. To help grow businesses, Enterprise Ireland organises Showcase Ireland every year, a three-day trade show that presents the best of Irish craft and design to a national and international network of buyers.
This year Enterprise Ireland and Showcase Ireland celebrated the historic milestone of 50 years in existence. This year this incredible event marked five decades, celebrations that will not be repeated in our lifetime. This renowned event highlights the continued success and importance of Irish craftsmanship, design and quality. This year I had the opportunity to meet a large number of exhibitors who strive to maintain traditional crafts to modern innovations.
The fair was held from January 19 to 21, 2025, and over 400 exhibitors were present, including master craftsmen and internationally recognised designers who all came to this fair with the same goal – to present their best works.
During my visit to Ireland, I had the opportunity to discover Ireland’s rich heritage through wool, tweed, linen and more with a very modern twist on traditional design. At this fair, I met the people behind their brands and I got to know the Irish way of thinking and I realized that the people are exactly what make Ireland so special. I have learned the special Irish design, craftsmanship and listen with great interest to the stories that define Irish creativity.
During this visit to Dublin, I had the opportunity to explore the vibrant exhibition space of the fair held at the Royal Dublin Society where I was introduced to the truly breathtaking beauty of the West Coast of Ireland, while staying at the luxurious Herbert Park Hotel in the heart of Dublin.
Craftsmanship, design and entrepreneurship have long been embedded in Ireland’s identity. The distinguishing characteristics and collective strength reflected in the range of Irish designers, makers and artisans exhibiting at Showcase Ireland make it a place to discover something new and noteworthy that makes Ireland so special.
Ireland never experienced the Industrial Revolution and therefore maintained a focus on craftsmanship and design rather the uniformity of mass production that has become more common in her region. The story of Irish craft and design is only part of a rich cultural heritage and a powerful emotional connection to the island, its landscape and heritage. Many designers present their vision of Ireland through the art of forgotten crafts, textile traditions and historical references, but also with a completely new, modern reinterpreted fresh and contemporary approach to work. This commitment to past traditions leads to a revival of skills.
Over the past 50 years some of Ireland’s most famous names have exhibited at Showcase Ireland, and 2025 was no exception. Brands such as Aran Woollen Mills, Bonner of Ireland, Magee 1866, Mucros Weavers, Green Angel, The Handmade Soap Company, Nicholas Mosse and the world’s oldest candle making company – Rathbones 1488, were featured alongside 90 new brands that were first introduced exhibited at this fair. One brand that attended the first show in 1975 was Hanna Hats and returned in 2025 with styles from their archive collections as well as the introduction of new tweed models and lines.
Bonner of Ireland is a family company dedicated to using traditional crafts to produce quality knitwear from the finest yarns. Their team believes in sustainable design and innovation to provide a product and service that meets and exceeds customer needs. A person wearing a Bonner of Ireland product will gain a sense of the heritage, tradition and ideals of Donegal in Ireland.

To wear a Bonner of Ireland creation is to wrap yourself in the essence of Ireland, to carry the deep-rooted traditions of Donegal close to your heart. In every thread, a piece of history; in every weaving of stories. Bonner of Ireland sources its wool from local artisan wool producers: Donegal Yarns. They manage the complete vertical production process from raw wool, through dyeing, mixing, carding and spinning to the finished multi-coloured colored yarn for the weaving, knitting and craft industries. All products are made in Ireland and production takes place at their woolen mill in Kilcar, Ireland.
In one of the next fashion stories from Ireland I will show you an outfit with a Bonner of Ireland sweater from a special collection.
Celtic Tweed is a luxury Irish brand that makes bespoke Irish tweed clothing for men and women: jackets, waistcoats, gilets and body warmers, shirts, hats, skirts. What is the story of this brand? After 35 years in the industry working with suppliers around the world, Celtic Tweed brand founders Mrs. Cathy Coghlan and Mr. Frank Coghlan decided in 2012 to create a unique Irish clothing collection that is to revive the fabrics of Ireland and proudly make these clothes in their hometown in Balbriggan, a town with a rich history of weaving and clothing manufacturing dating back to the 1830s.
Every day since then has been a journey of learning and discovery. The Celtic Tweed team designs with simplicity believing that the best things in life are simple and timeless. They strip away the unnecessary to create elegant pieces. Making these pieces time and time again and truly honing their skills, constantly perfecting cuts, fabrics, textures and finishes with each new collection, they are truly the best of the best created by their highly skilled team of designers, cutters and tailors.
People are becoming much more curious about how their clothes come from Balbriggan, enabling the Celtic Tweed team to share that journey with them. Their team meticulously handcrafts each piece, to create shapes that fit beautifully with your figure, to create authentically sustainable pieces of quiet luxury, which will become cherished heirlooms for you and future generations to enjoy together. The Celtic Tweed team makes clothes with love that will be enjoyed by future generations.
During my visit to Ireland, I had the opportunity to see for myself the beauty of the design and quality of Celtic Tweed clothing, and I will present it to you in a special fashion story in the coming period.

A brand that caught my attention is Irish luxury knitwear brand Ériu who make clothing, accessories and other products from 100% Irish wool which has been chosen for its unique characteristics of softness, drape, shine and seam definition. The founders of this amazing brand are Ms. Zoë Daly and Mr. Lionel Mackey.
Ériu’s story began with Mrs. Daly’s grandmother, Kitsy, who knitted all her life. It was her art, her craft, her soul. For her, knitting was a practical, useful thing, but also an expression of selfless and great love. When Ms. Zoe’s daughter was born, right on Keats’ birthday, as luck would have it, she knitted her a blanket, her first baby blanket. This precious blanket is made from 100% soft and silky merino wool.
Ms Zoe has discovered a new community of small and sustainable farmers who are committed to restoring Ireland’s woolen tradition, a heritage of cottage industry. A concept based on new breeds of sheep, new blends of wool, new ways of renewing old skills. After she met Mr. Lionel Mackey, a farmer from Wicklow, who understood the reality of sheep farming as well as the needs of the business, they decided to establish the Ériu brand, which took its name from the patron goddess of Ireland, the queen of fertility, sovereignty and abundance .
They wanted to create a fully sustainable process for making Irish wool blankets, where the material is sourced directly from farmers and local textile artisans are employed. “From farm to yarn” became their mantra, a new hope and eventually the slogan of this unusual brand.
During Showcase Ireland I had the opportunity to meet the founders of the brand and learn about their work and divine products made from real Irish wool. In the following fashion stories I will show you some of the outfits I did in collaboration with this luxury Irish knitwear brand.

During Showcase Ireland, I recognised my special love for coats in the brand Mackintosh by Francis Campelli. This brand is engaged in the production of luxury rainwear. What is the story of this brand? Almost two centuries ago, in 1823 to be exact, Mr. Charles Mackintosh patented his development of an outstanding waterproof fabric. Raincoats are made by a select few manufacturers using his double textured 2 ply cotton bonded with a rubber compound which is then bonded with rubberized cotton. Not long after, in 1889, one of those Manchester manufacturers expanded its operations to Ireland and in 1934 registered its Mackintosh manufacturing business.
The popularity of raincoats has led to them being exported to countries as far as the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. They were worn by men and women who appreciated their function and quality workmanship, however, complaints continued due to the smell of rubber and their tendency to melt in hot weather and become stiff in cold.
In 1983, the company was bought by Mr. Francis Campelli who successfully addressed these complaints and developed a fabric that is odorless and will not change properties in extreme weather conditions. This fabric is a double cotton texture, with a high-tech breathable membrane sandwiched between 2 layers of cotton, it is breathable, waterproof, windproof, durable and has the added benefit of being dry cleanable and hand washable.

Unlike other high-tech waterproof fabrics, this one has a completely natural look and feels soft against the skin. For nearly 200 years, generations of artisans have produced these garments that have come to be known as “Mack”.
In the following fashion stories on the Mr.M blog, you will have the opportunity to see how I styled a timeless double-breasted Mackintosh by Francis Campelli yellow raincoat, which is also the first raincoat of this bright colour in my wardrobe, as well as an interesting winter jacket with a winter insole.

As a big fan of luxury and high quality leather goods, at the Showcase Ireland fair I had the honour of meeting Mr. Gerard Horn, the manager of the George Horn brand that produces luxury leather gloves.
George Horn is a third generation glove maker based in Dublin. Founded by George in the 1940s and continued by his son Brian, the company is now run by Brian and his son Gerard. With a passion for quality, authenticity and respect for their craft and artistry, George Horn produces the finest hand-stitched gloves available.
After 77 years of craft, expertise, excitement, many successes and failures, and the hard work of 3 generations of one family, the continuation of George Horn not only sees the survival of the last master glove maker in Ireland, but also heralds a new era of those learning the trade. George Horn is also engaged in the training and education of leather artisans and glove makers to ensure that these age-old skills are preserved in a sustainable and sustainable way.
In the next fashion stories on the Mr.M blog, I will show you gloves from this luxury Irish leather goods brand, George Horn.

Enterprise Ireland is aware of the importance of ensuring the Showcase Ireland event is an environmentally sustainable event, and their team are actively working to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Showcase Ireland was held at the RDS which is centrally located, with good public transport and a range of accommodation options nearby. It has the ISO 50001:2018 standard for energy management systems.
There is a 100kvp solar installation on site, with another 1MW of potential roof space slated for development by the end of 2025. Constantly expanding the station’s electric vehicle charging network starting in 2023 to facilitate the transition to sustainable transport and increasing the number of bike racks available on site to encourage people to attend events there using active transport alternatives.
As for catering, all catering facilities use compostable food packaging and coffee cups. What is important to note about waste, separate dry mixed recycling materials, waste wood, green waste, food and other compostable waste so that they enter the appropriate waste processing streams.
The Enterprise Ireland team is aware that sustainability only works if we are all involved and working together, so they are encouraging all participants to engage with the sustainability initiatives that were implemented at this year’s Showcase Ireland event.
One of the most important items was that each of the participants and visitors should bring their own reusable bottle, as there were places for refilling water in the registration area for visitors and participants of the event. It was also very important that the correct bins were used when disposing of any waste, this helped the Enterprise Ireland team to maintain their ‘zero waste to landfill’ policy at the RDS.
All participants and visitors are advised to use public transport or use the 5 EV solar powered charging points located in the Merrion Road car park. Take advantage of the opportunity to organize as many online meetings as possible, thereby reducing the need for additional travel in the future.
One of the highlights was downloading the Showcase app and using the QR code on the back of the badge holder to access the beige exhibition catalog using cardboard and extra paper. In addition, all visitors were advised to take photos of business cards or flyers instead of using physical copies.
All exhibitors were advised to use QR codes instead of printed materials to provide information to all interested visitors. In addition, it was extremely important for exhibitors to provide samples and gifts made from sustainable or reusable materials. They are also advised to use sustainable materials for the stand where possible.
In addition to all the proposed measures, even the balloons used at the event are made of biodegradable latex. This material decomposes at a rate comparable to an oak leaf. This material is responsibly sourced through Forest Stewardship Council Plantations that are Rain Forest Alliance certified.
Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence is set in a tranquil park in the center of Dublin, this hotel acts as a peaceful and spacious oasis dedicated to providing a luxurious, relaxing city break imbued with high quality hospitality and a thoughtful personal touch.
During my visit to Showcase Ireland, I had the opportunity to stay in a park view studio apartment with a balcony. For those who want to extend their stay and enjoy the hotel a little more, Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence is pleased to offer exclusive Studio Apartments with a balcony that have a magnificent view of the park. Within this distinguished category, this hotel has a select number of Studio Suites, each offering unparalleled views of tranquil Herbert Park.
These studio apartments redefine luxury living, seamlessly blending the comfort of a superior hotel experience with the convenience of a fully equipped kitchenette, ensuring that every moment of your stay is filled with enjoyment and comfort. I would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence for their warm welcome and hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, a unique experience that I will remember!
I will share my detailed experience with this wonderful hotel with you in one of the next posts in the Ireland travelogue series.
In the following posts, I will try to show you the beauty of the capital of Ireland – Dublin, as well as some natural beauties of Ireland with unusual fashion stories I made there. My dear adventurers and fashion lovers, we have come to the end of this first special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Ireland where we had the opportunity to get acquainted with this unusual trade show Showcase Ireland that takes place every year in Dublin and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year .
Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of Enterprise Ireland and Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of local culture and the beauty of everyday life in Ireland. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Ireland.
A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.
I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with many companies and entrepreneurs in different sectors and I would like to thank Enterprise Ireland and Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence once again for this amazing Showcase Ireland adventure and for allowing me to experience in a very different way I feel the beauty of this unusual Irish culture and I feel the beauty of everyday life in Dublin and Ireland in general.
How did you like my story about Ireland and the presentation of this specific Showcase Ireland trade show that showcases the best of Irish culture and tradition? Have you had a chance to visit Ireland yet?
If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with a new story!
In the following stories from Ireland, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey takes you to this unusual country!
With Love from Dublin,,
Mr. M
This post is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland and Herbert Park Hotel & Park Residence as well as other local partners. This post represents my personal and honest review of the event experience and the destination itself.