Kilkenny finalist announced for Business of Craft Awards at Local Enterprise Showcase 2026

A craft and design business from Kilkenny has been shortlisted for the finals of the Business of Craft Awards as part of Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2026 in the RDS later this month.

Gail Daniels, founder of Bó Bar Soap and supported by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, has been shortlisted in the Newcomer category in the third year of the Business of Craft Awards.

Bó Bar Soap is a small, family-run business based on their farm in Kilkenny, dedicated to creating natural, sustainable, handmade products. Their signature offering is their handmade cow’s milk soap, carefully crafted in small batches using milk from own grass-fed cows.

Each bar is made with all-natural, skin-friendly ingredients, free from artificial additives, making them a gentle and nourishing choice for everyday use. Sustainability is at the heart of their business. Bó Bar Soap are committed to reducing waste, sourcing responsibly, and using simple, eco-friendly packaging.
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“The addition of the Business of Craft Awards to the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase has been a significant boost for the companies," said Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise in Kilkenny County Council’s Local Enterprise Office.

"It helps to spotlight some of the best-in-class businesses from the design and craft sector across the country, and it gives businesses that extra competitive advantage in front of domestic and international buyers during the event.

"On the whole Showcase 2026 is going to be a huge event for our Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny supported companies taking part. They get the chance to meet with buyers from all over the world and it’s three days that could change their business forever. We’ve been working closely with them all to ensure they can maximise their participation so there is a lot of excitement ahead of the event this year.”

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) awards were open to all the LEO clients who are exhibiting at the event as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase. This is the second year of the awards that celebrate the business behind the amazing craft and design products that are behind 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.

The awards will take place on Monday, January 19 at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event. The shortlisted companies were selected from the 104 Local Enterprise clients who will be exhibiting to national and international buyers across the three days at the event which is hosted by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.

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.