Craftspeople from ten Cork businesses in South Cork, West Cork and Cork City will be representing the county at the Showcase Expo in Dublin this month, meeting thousands of international buyers from across Europe, North America and Asia. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Thanks to the support of the Cork County and City Enterprise Boards, Kieran Higgins, Dunbeacon Pottery, Custom Quilting, Julian Smith Ceramics, Bagoose Fleece Clothing, Belinda Northcote Design, Liz Burgess Ceramics, Hilary Nunan, Turner Glass and Martha Cashman Sculptural Ceramics will be exhibiting their creations in the R.D.S. at ‘Area A’, along with over 30 other exhibitors which have been supported by their local Enterprise Board.
An estimated 5,000 buyers from Ireland, Japan, the US, France, Germany and Italy will be attending Showcase over the four days, to see the work of 450 craftspeople.
Speaking ahead of Showcase, Sean O’ Sullivan, the CEO of South Cork Enterprise Board said: “The Cork County and City Enterprise Boards are delighted to be involved
in supporting local gift businesses at Showcase 2010.  Over the years we have been pro-active in supporting this sector following the successful Gift Business Development Programme and more recently BT Cork Design Week.  The Boards in Cork remain committed to supporting the gift sector in 2010.”

The West Cork Enterprise Board is supporting Kieran Higgins, a woodturner from Skibbereen, Helen Ennis from Dunbeacon Pottery in Durrus and Beryl Cadman from Custom Quilting in Castletownbere. The South Cork Enterprise Board is supporting Julian Smith Ceramics from Kinsale, Simone O’ Shaughnessy from Bagoose Fleece Clothing in Passage West, Belinda Northcote Design from Shanagarry, Liz Burgess Ceramics from Belgooly and Hilary Nunan from Minane Bridge. The Cork City Enterprise Board is supporting Eoin Turner from Turner Glass in Blackpool and Martha Cashman Sculptural Ceramics on Upper Blarney Street.
Now in its 34th year, Showcase is Ireland’s creative expo and runs from Sunday January 24th to Wednesday January 27th in the Main Hall of the R.D.S. The initiative provides Irish designer makers, craft enterprises and gift brand manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products to the world’s buyers. Organised by Showcase Ireland Events Ltd. on behalf of the Crafts Council of Ireland, the event is promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland and more information is available at www.showcaseireland.com
Further information about the supports on offer to small businesses in Cork is available at www.wceb.ie (West Cork), www.sceb.ie (South Cork) and www.corkceb.ie (Cork City).

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Supported by South Cork Enterprise Board:

About Julian Smith Ceramics (www.westcorkcraft.org)
Julian Smith has been working with clay for over twenty years, producing one-off cast and hand-built ceramic pieces, mainly based on figurative forms and Celtic mythology. From his studio in the fishing village of Kinsale, Julian has mastered raku-firing, a 16th century Japanese firing process.  His raku-fired ceramics have rich metallic lustres and crackle glazes, which Julian has become famous for.
About Bagoose Fleece Clothing (www.bagoose.com)
Award-winning designer, Simone O’ Shaughnessy, set up the Bagoose Children’s Clothing Label a decade ago in Passage West.  Designed and manufactured in Ireland using 100% polyester (made from recycled plastic), the clothing is fun, colourful and cosy. The range includes scarves, jackets, blankets and hats in styles and sizes to suit boys and girls.  “Easy wear, Easycare, Everywhere” is the Bagoose motto.
About Belinda Northcote Design (www.belindanorthcote.com)
Precise and detailed, colourful yet timeless, Belinda Northcote specialises in botanical and wildlife paintings, having graduated from the prestigious UK Society of Botanical Artists Diploma Course. Inspired by her surroundings (the picturesque fishing village of Ballycotton),  Belinda’s fine art prints and greeting cards have stunning botanical detail, which include all kinds of ‘creepy crawlies’.
About Liz Burgess Ceramics
Through the medium of clay, Liz translates her thoughts and ideas into raku-fired ceramics, such as figurative torsos, facial masks and ‘Painter’s Palettes’ ceramic bowls. Celebrating the beauty of the human form, Liz’s contemporary ceramic sculptures are complex, textured and vibrantly coloured. Based in Kinsale, Liz will be unveiling ‘Lava Flowers’ at Showcase – these pieces are rich in colour, lustrous and stylish.
About Hilary Nunan
From windy shores and wheat fields to choppy waters and reed beds – Hilary Nunan creates vibrant, textured works of art. An award-winning artist, Hilary draws inspiration from the working fields, hedgerows and coastline surrounding her Ringabella studio. Her striking applied art and craft is traditionally framed, uniquely combining acrylic and natural fibres. Hillary is launching a range of greeting cards shortly.
Supported by Cork City Enterprise Board:
About Turner Glass (www.turnerglass.com)
Working from his glass studio in Cork City, Eoin Turner has gained international attention for his “casually elegant” glassware that includes vases, bowls and candleholders from his ‘Vortex’ collection.  Eoin’s designs are clearly inspired by the sea, given his experiences as a West Cork fisherman and as a painter. Made from cast glass and formed metal, Turner Glass pieces project a subtle, yet ruggedly defined form.

About Martha Cashman Sculptural Ceramics (www.marthacashman.com)
Martha Cashman is an award-winning ceramicist who transforms the most humbling of objects, such as tools and spoons, into symbolic story boards. Using porcelain and bright lustre glazes, Martha crafts framed sculptures, unique porcelain brooches and Christmas Tree Hangings at her Cork city studio.  Having won the Scarva Award, Martha’s work can also be viewed at the Cork Institute of Technology.
Supported by West Cork Enterprise Board:
About Kieran Higgins (www.kieranhiggins.com)
Kieran crafts unique pieces in native hardwood timber and bog woods at his artist studio near Skibbereen in West Cork.  A member of the Irish Woodturners’ Guild, Kieran sculpts, carves and turns wood, highlighting its natural characteristics and defects to retain the wood’s heritage. The colour, grain and imperfection within the wood decides the shape and form of the finished piece.
About Dunbeacon Pottery (www.dunbeaconpottery.com)
For the last 30 years, West Cork’s Dunbeacon Pottery has been famous for its beautiful, yet functional hand-made ceramic tableware. Since taking over ten years ago, Helen Ennis has continued to craft ceramic pieces that capture the essence of Ireland’s Southwest coast. Her latest collection focuses on well-designed and affordable bowls, vases, jugs, mugs, butter dishes and tabletop pottery, all decorated by hand.
About Custom Quilting (www.customquilt.com)
Beryl Cadman is a textile artist and a grandmother, so she fully understands the importance of both beauty and function in children’s bedding. With decades of quilting experience, Beryl makes heirloom -quality quilts and accessories under the ‘Custom Quilting’ brand.  The ‘Bunny Love’ nursery collection of quilts, pillows and nursery accessories are all hand-made, designed to withstand the rigors of everyday life.