AN exhibition of solely Irish made crafts and gifts for Irish retailers was opened yesterday by the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Mr Kenny.
There are nearly 40 glass, pottery and craft ware companies represented at the exhibition in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin which continues until Thursday.
The event was organised by the Gift and Craft Guild which was established earlier this year by a group of producers. The guild has a membership of more than 43 producing firms which employ 700 people.
The exhibition was organised in preparation for the Christmas market. The combined turnover of the companies is £32 million a year.
The Irish gift ware market is worth an estimated £200 million a year, according to a recent report by Bord Trachtala.
Among the companies exhibiting were Duiske Handcut Glass, Judy Greene Pottery, Noritake Arklow and the Glassworks. Many exhibitors said the type of crafts being produced in Ireland was changing.
"With no disrespect to the people who went before, the crafts of 15 or 20 years ago were very superficial and once the goods were coloured green it was sufficient. That just won't do now, a committee member said.
The organisation's chairman, Mr Ken Kelly, said. "People buying now are a lot more discerning they are not looking for the glass sham rocks and shillelaghs any more. It is up to us to cope with this."
The guild's aim is to enable companies to launch joint marketing ventures and target the export market, he added.
Mr Paul Fox, a committee member, said one of the main problems facing the pottery industry was the shortage of potters. "There is a course run by the Crafts Council for potters but that only turns out nine people per year, so skilled people are a scarce resource in Ireland."
He said the main obstacle to craft companies exporting was the high transport costs. The company he worked for, Judy Greene Pottery, had "little" help from the Crafts Council, which is the umbrella group for the industry.
Mr Pearce O'Brien, guild secretary from Duiske Handcut Glass, said the council had been extremely helpful in dealings with his firm. There was more disposable income being spent on glassware than ever before and "price was not the only factor" for customers.
Ms Judy Greene started her pottery business 15 years ago working alone but it has now grown to one of the largest craft enterprises in the State.
"Our best tourist customers are continental Europeans who really know about their pottery. They want something that will remind them of their visit, but they do not usually choose the more obvious shamrock pieces," she said.
"Having said that, one of my most popular pieces is a miniature nativity crib.".
The biggest problem was thinking of new design ideas for retail buyers, many of whom attended yesterday's exhibition, she said. "You can be lucky if something catches on, like my bluebell pottery which really launched this firm."
Mr Kenny, who was presented with a piece of porcelain at the exhibition, said. "The quality of Irish gifts and crafts reflect great deal of the spirit of Ireland, whether it is in our heritage or the design flair and innovative ideas of the young modern Ireland."