Applications reach record high as more than 220 Irish businesses apply to Fáilte since its launch
Carrolls Irish Gifts has named Fíor Jewellery as the winner of its 2026 Fáilte initiative, awarding the Irish jewellery brand a €50,000 growth package to help take the next step in its retail journey.
The announcement comes as applications for Fáilte hit a record high in 2026, increasing by 79% on last year. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has attracted more than 220 applications from Irish businesses looking to bring their products to a wider audience.
With 80% of its purchases sourced from Irish suppliers, Carrolls Irish Gifts has long championed homegrown brands and businesses. Fáilte builds on this commitment, giving emerging Irish businesses the opportunity to secure retail space, access industry expertise and introduce their products to new customers.
Founded by Gaeilgeoir and entrepreneur Seán Leddin, Fíor Jewellery creates contemporary jewellery inspired by Irish language, heritage and identity. Fíor was born from Seán's own experience of living and working abroad and missing the familiarity of home. He wanted to create something that felt unmistakably Irish but could still be worn every day, wherever in the world you happened to be.
That idea grew into Fíor Jewellery, with the name coming from the Irish word fíor, meaning "true" or "real". Today, the brand's collections put a contemporary spin on familiar elements of Irish culture and language, including its Ireland Map, Grá and Claddagh-inspired pieces, and have attracted a growing customer base both in Ireland and overseas.
As the Fáilte 2026 winner, Fíor will receive a €50,000 support package from Carrolls Irish Gifts, including retail space, online visibility, marketing and media support, mentorship and expertise across merchandising, product positioning and retail growth.
For Seán and the Fíor team, the win will put the brand in front of thousands of new customers, while giving them hands-on support from a team with decades of experience bringing Irish products to customers at home and overseas.
Peter Hyland, CEO of Carrolls Irish Gifts, commented: "Fíor stood out for its strong understanding of both its customer and its identity, taking Irish language and heritage and translating them into contemporary, commercially strong products. Supporting Irish businesses has always been at the heart of Carrolls, and Fáilte is another way for us to help homegrown brands reach their potential. Applications hit a record high this year, up 79%, showing the strong appetite among Irish entrepreneurs for opportunities like Fáilte. We're delighted to welcome Fíor to our stores and support Seán and his team as they take this exciting next step."
Seán Leddin, Founder of Fíor Jewellery, said: "Fíor really came from my own experience of living abroad and wanting something that made me feel connected to home and to the Irish language. I never imagined at the time that it would grow into what it is today, so being named the Fáilte 2026 winner is a huge moment for us. Having Fíor on shelves in Carrolls and getting that support from a team who really understands Irish products and customers is an incredible opportunity. I'm really excited to see where we can take the brand next."
Now in its fourth year, Fáilte has helped shine a spotlight on emerging Irish businesses, with previous winners including As Gaeilge, Enniskinn and SnooZip.
Reflecting on her experience of winning Fáilte in 2025, Aisling Ryan, founder of SnooZip, said: “Winning Fáilte was such a big moment for SnooZip. Having a retailer like Carrolls believe in our Irish brand and give us the opportunity to have our products stocked in stores nationwide was amazing. The support, advice and encouragement we've received from the team has been invaluable. For a small Irish business, getting your foot in the door with larger retailers isn't always easy, and Fáilte has given us the confidence and credibility to pursue new opportunities.”
Reflecting on her experience of winning Fáilte in 2024, Jessica Shaw, founder of Enniskinn, said: "Winning the Fáilte 2024 competition was a real turning point for Enniskinn. Seeing our products on Carrolls' shelves gave us the confidence and brand awareness to grow far beyond our own little town. Since then we've gone from a small handmade brand to more than 300 stockists across Ireland, the UK and further afield. We've just opened a second retail outlet, with more retail activations planned in the coming months. Fáilte opened doors we couldn't have opened on our own, and we're so grateful to Carrolls for believing in a small Irish brand with big stories to tell."
The opportunities created through Fáilte extend beyond the overall winner, with participating brands such as Mundo Moo also going on to secure retail opportunities with Carrolls Irish Gifts.
The initiative forms part of Carrolls Irish Gifts' wider commitment to supporting Irish suppliers, with its stores stocking a broad range of homegrown brands including Irish Socksciety, Brady's Coffee, Mother Soap Co, Blue Shoe Gallery and Aran Woollen Mills.
Through initiatives such as Fáilte, Carrolls Irish Gifts continues to support the next generation of Irish businesses, helping them reach new customers and build a stronger presence in retail.
From Tuesday, 20th October, customers will be able to shop Fíor Jewellery at Carrolls Irish Gifts' College Green and Westmoreland Street stores in Dublin, as well as online at carrollsirishgifts.com.
For more information on the Fáilte initiative, visit www.carrollsirishgifts.com/failte.
To find out more about Fíor Jewellery, visit www.fior-jewellery.com.
