The success of the 2024 Expo!
More than 75 retail buyers and local artisan food and craft producers gathered at the Cliffs of Moher Experience on Monday the 19th of February for the Expo.
Supported by the Local Enterprise Office Clare, Clare County Council and The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the second annual event provided producers and craftspeople with a unique opportunity to showcase their products and network to consumers and to national and regional buyers.
Buyers had a chance to ‘Meet the Maker’ and touch, taste and see some of the award-winning and internationally renowned products from cheeses to jewellery, whiskey to designer clothing and from wild salmon to art. The event also included a ‘Taste of County Clare’ Geo-food event showcasing the award winning and globally renowned food produce of the Burren.
Cliffs of Moher and Clare Retail Exposition February 19th 2024
Supported by Clare County Council & Local Enterprise Office Clare
The Expo opened at the Cliffs of Moher Experience on Monday, February 19th with a business-to-consumer event from 11am to 4pm during which local Clare artists, producers and craftspeople exhibited their products at Ireland’s most visited natural attraction.
The best of Clare’s artisan food and crafts enjoyed a unique shop window at the Cliffs of Moher and Clare Retail Expo. On Monday February 19th from 11am to 4pm, the Cliffs of Moher Experience hosted a business-to-consumer retail buyers’ event at which Clare artists, producers and craftspeople presented their products and networked with national and regional buyers.
Exhibitors at the Cliffs of Moher Experience: Monday, 19th February 2024
Natural Handmade Soap, Skincare and Candles. Airmid has developed a wide range of skincare products to include lotion bars, balms and botanical oils – all with nature at the heart of their design. The Green Man range is designed to specifically meet the needs of men’s skin. Airmid’s principle is ‘if it doesn’t come from nature, you won’t find it in any of the Airmid products.’ At Airmid, they only use the traditional cold process soap-making method. That means that all the goodness of the ingredients is in the final product.
Handcrafted Irish Ceramics, all handmade & hand painted in Co. Clare. Raquel Walsh, a graduate of Limerick school of Art & Design is inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape around The Burren, Co. Clare. Her work is influenced by the marks of erosion and the perfect imperfections created by Mother Nature from the often harsh conditions she creates. The wildflowers, butterflies and ladybird that adorn each piece are a reminder of the beauty and strength of all life on earth and that it can find a way to adapt and evolve to the conditions surrounding it. With this in mind Rachel creates beautiful ceramic pieces in the hope that you are inspired to create a tranquil space in your home where you can take a little time to remember the wonder of Nature. Each piece is individually handmade and hand painted.
Ekotree knitwear Studio and Visitor Centre is based in the village of Doolin, County Clare along the scenic Wild Atlantic Way. Ekotree are designer-makers of Irish knitwear using the highest quality natural yarns including cashmere, superfine alpaca, lambs wool merino, mohair, linen & organic cotton.
Clare Jam Company is a family business set up in 1986 by Vera and David Muir. The Clare Jam Company has a collection of over thirty preserves, marmalades, chutneys, mustards, jellies and condiments, all steeped in a long standing artisan heritage – a heritage that is as inspiring as the West of Ireland landscape where they’re made.
J.J Corry is an independent curator and creator of superior spirits, reimagining Irish Whiskey traditions by collaborating with Distillers and craftspeople around the world.
J.J Corry has selected single malt, single grain and pot still whiskey from their library of flavours, placed them in sherry casks and are ‘finishing’ these in the O’Briens Tower at The Cliffs of Moher.
Wix and Wax Ireland, are a company that takes pride in creating premium-quality wax melts that are eco-friendly, vegan friendly & cruelty-free with recyclable packaging. All products are created in Ireland using sustainably sourced soy wax blends. Experience the magic of the Blossom Breeze wax melt and transform your living space into a fragrant haven! Wix and Wax specialise in luxury soy based candles and wax melts.
Raquel will take care of your hands with her range of naturally moisturising handmade products. All products are handcrafted in small batches with plant oils & butters, essential oils, and botanicals. The soap bars and body scrubs are handmade using the traditional cold process method that retains the natural glycerin within the final product. All products meet the strict EU cosmetic standards, they are never tested on animals and packaging is environmentally sensitive.
SIAR Photography, meaning “West” or “Westward” in Irish, offers original photography prints and products of Ireland, all made in Ireland. It was founded in 2019 by husband and wife team, Gary and Aoife.
Artist Helen Lowe is a visual artist with many paintings sold worldwide. Helen Lowes paintings, captures the solidarity of seascapes, landscape and fauna of Ireland. The selected awe-inspiring paintings are brought to life using classical elements of earth, water, fire, and air giving the images a three-dimensional feel. Helen Lowes paintings, captures the solidarity of seascapes, landscape and fauna of Ireland.
Doreen Drennan is an award winning impressionist painter and has been documenting the Wild Atlantic Way and the Burren for over 30 years.
Óir Tonics is nestled on the breathtaking West Coast of Ireland. Inspired by the rich traditions of Irish coastal communities, the founder, Edel Breslin, embarked on a mission to create a wellness brand deeply rooted in the healing properties of Irish Sea Moss, also known as Carrageen Moss. Drawing on her background as a chef and her studies in Nutritional Therapy & Herbal Medicine, Edel crafted a traditional ‘carrageen elixir’ recipe. She then infused it with carefully selected, nutritionally dense ingredients to develop a line of tonics that are both convenient and bursting with goodness. The aim is to provide health-conscious individuals like you with a flavourful and nutrient-packed solution that reconnects you to the powerful benefits of Native Irish Seaweed that naturally maintains gut & immune health.
Hurst Botanicals create light and bubbly botanical soft drinks for you to enjoy from their botanical brewery in Co. Clare. A small Irish drinks producer that uses tea botanicals and fermentation methods to curate light, bubbly soft drinks infused with a little wildness, including kombucha. As well as tingling taste buds, Hurst was founded to connect people and nature for greater wellbeing.
Welcome to Cheeky Stitcher where cross-stitching gets a cheeky upgrade! This range of cross stitch kits features sassy Irish sayings, hilarious Father Ted designs, and scenic County Clare charm. Each hobby kit is meticulously curated, and equipped with everything you need for a hassle-free stitching journey. Contact details are included in every kit, offering direct access and support for any inquiries or assistance.
Wilde Irish Chocolate was founded in 1997, based in Tuamgraney, Co. Clare, an expert team of in-house trained chocolate makers takes care of chocolate production and testing, packaging, design, social media, and tours. The chocolate is always handmade, and chocolate production is in small batch quantities, enabling the team to minutely adjust all ingredients in blends to create the best chocolate-eating experience for customers. There is a range of over 80 different types of chocolate bars, chocolate slices, chocolate gift selections, chocolate spreads and hot chocolate swirl sticks.
Award-winning Irish sheep’s cheese, a family-run farm business that produces and matures a handcrafted sheep’s cheese for the past 35 years in Co. Clare.
Using time and experience to bring out the unique taste and flavour of the sheep’s cheese
Elaine is a landscape photographer based in Doolin, Co. Clare. Her website portfolio demonstrates a global element from years of travelling, mixed with a strong photographic representation of the west coast of Ireland; of land and sea. Her unique style draws attention to print sales locally and internationally.”
NAIIAD Designer Jewellery is handcrafted using Sterling silver, gold-plated silver and gold-filled, with the inclusion of semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls and handmade glass beads from Murano, Venice (Italy).The brand NAIIAD is focused on high quality of materials and craftsmanship, and unique designs with small production. I ensure the full control of quality from sourcing the raw materials and components, to the hand manufacturing, packaging and customer service, with strong emphasis on personal touch and high standards of communication and customer satisfaction.
The Burren Smokehouse is a family-run business set up in 1989 by the owners Birgitta & Peter Curtin in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. Sourcing exclusively Irish quality raw materials to produce a superb smoked organic salmon and other types of fish in the highly acclaimed, award-winning artisan smokehouse. Taste the Atlantic – The Salmon Experience. Smoked Salmon Mackerel and Eel. Winners at Blas na hEireann 2022.
MacCóda Hurleys, a hurley making business ran by Aidan Cuddihy based in Inagh, Co. Clare, uses traditional methods to hand make hurleys out of seasoned local ash. These traditional methods have been refined by his father Tom over the last 40 years as a passion and a hobby. Aidan has learnt from the best. With a qualification in Health and Leisure studies, many years experience working in the sports industry, a love of woodwork from a very young age; setting up a hurley making business has been a natural choice.
MacCóda hurleys run workshops showcasing the old methods of hand making hurleys, carving them out of ash. Friendly for all ages. A day families will love. Aidan has developed a method of printing school crests, club crests and names directly onto the hurleys making them unique for the customer. MacCóda Hurleys is a zero waste enterprise.
The ash used is sourced from a sustainably managed ash forestry in Shannon ran by Clare GAA. The ash cut offs are used to make hand crafted wooden toys, coasters, chopping boards, kitchen utensils and much more. The ash wood shavings are used by local farmers as excellent bedding for hens and local gardeners as it makes excellent compost which Aidan provides free of charge.
For more information on the hurley making process or what Aidan makes, check out the MacCóda Hurleys Facebook and Instagram pages.
Ballymorris Pottery was established in 1994 in rural Co. Clare, in a 17th Century Farm. Since opening, the pottery has expanded and a new workshop has been created with a retail outlet, located in a renovated hay barn. The pottery is run by Hannah Arnup. Ballymorris Pottery make a beautiful selection of handmade stoneware pottery and ceramics, in a style that is classic and contemporary, using positive shapes and strong colours to create its distinctive image, often using spiral sgraffito decoration or multi layers of glaze.
Handcrafted Irish products, made from recycled slate and wood.
Jewellery to get excited about. Unique designs lovingly handmade in a small workshop along the Wild Atlantic Way in Co Clare. Drawing inspiration from the changing seasonal colours of this beautiful island. Dedicated to using high quality beads and materials ensuring each piece is not only beautiful, it’s a delight to wear too.
St. Tola Goats Cheese is recognised as one of the leading Irish Farmhouse Cheeses, with the company being listed as one of 50 producers making Ireland a better place in 2022 .
irishtshirts.ie is a family business from Co Clare. They screen print out own original designs by hand on certified ethical, and environmentally responsible clothing. Irishshirts.ie is located at the Cliffs of Moher Experience outside the visitor centre and is the first store on the Craftworkers st. on the right-hand side as you approach the visitor centre.
A Brand for Local Food within UNESCO Global Geoparks. GEOfood is a global brand that promotes food that is sourced and produced in UNESCO Global Geoparks. GEOfood emphasises the connections between local food and the food traditions and geological heritage of the region where the food is produced. It is a brand that focuses on strengthening local livelihoods by connecting local food producers, restaurants, and retailers to each other. GEOfood increases opportunities for local people and visitors to savour and appreciate quality local food. GEOfood promotes sustainable food production, protects biodiversity, encourages responsible use of water and waste recycling, seasonality, reduced food miles and increased local economic impacts.
A self-taught artist originally from Bray in County Wicklow. Emma has been engaged in painting, drawing, and sketching since early childhood. Her recent artistic endeavours have been focused on architectural illustrations of quaint pubs, shop fronts, and building facades throughout Ireland. Meticulously, Emma draws out each subject in pencil, infusing vibrant colours using Kuretake Japenese watercolours, and adds fine detail lines using Sakura pens.
Upon completing an original painting, Emma scans each work to a high resolution and prints the images on archival photographic paper. Each print is then mounted in an ivory window mount and signed for authenticity. Additionally, she produces various items such as mugs, tote bags, coasters, and more from her workshop.
” For After I’ve Gone” is an end of life legacy journal to be left for loved one, that captures an array of precious information. From special memories to favourite songs, from family recipes to life advice. Naturally all these nuggets of information might seem trivial at present however they become treasured words to your loved ones, when you are no longer here. It is hugely beneficial to the ordeal of processing grief.
Created by Joanne Begley from Shannon, who is an end of life care practitioner when she saw the need for something like For After I’ve Gone on the market. Having completed various academies and pitching in Arnotts Pitch23 initiative it has been recognised not just on the Wild Atlantic Way but globally. This unique end of life journal not only enables individuals to leave behind a meaningful legacy but facilitates healing and closure for those who receive it. Therefore creating a mutually beneficial journey to both parties. This 200 page journal includes prompts alongside art and poetry by artist in Clare and further afield. It is essentially for all the things left unsaid.
A small family business with a strong commitment to sustainability. Making a difference by meeting the demand for zero waste, plastic-free alternatives to everyday soap, shampoo deodorant, and laundry bars.