Bringing Irish Craft to the Royal Dublin Horse Show: A Conversation with Ballybar Ireland
On the Saturday of the Royal Dublin Horse Show’s 150th year, the buzz in Hall 4 is hard to miss. Just up from the main entrance, stand J11 is alive with people drifting in and out, stopping to browse, chat, and—more often than not—buy. Behind it all is Ciara Stanley, the owner of Ballybar Ireland, whose warm, grounded approach to retail is as much a draw as the products themselves.
“I am the owner of Ballybar Ireland,” Ciara begins. “We’re based in Coppenagh House Farm, which is a farm shop in Tullow in Carlow, and we specialise in our own country-style shirt. They’re all half-button shirts, so they’re quite trendy, they’re very easy wear, they’re cotton, and you can dress them up or dress them down.”
Ballybar’s shirts are the foundation, but over the years the range has expanded. There’s now a collaboration with Pampeano Belts, Merry People Boots—of which Ballybar is the only Irish stockist—and locally made Merino Neck Gaiters from Carlow. The Horse Show, Ciara says, has been central to this growth.
“We’ve been coming to the RDS for the last four years. It’s a great show—we love coming to meet our customers and getting to know everyone, seeing new customers and old customers,” she explains.
In an era dominated by online shopping and social media marketing, Ciara is clear about the value of being face-to-face. “It’s such a crowded marketplace now that getting out and actually meeting people, adding that personal touch, and recognising people year on year—it matters. They appreciate that personality, that it’s not a faceless brand. If you tell them, ‘We’re in Tullow in Carlow and our farm hosts the Tullow Show,’ they feel like they’re buying from an Irish company they know.”
This connection translates into loyalty. “They can pick up the phone, have a chat with you, explain what type of product they want, and you can explain what you have. It gives them that personal touch, but also trust. You build a relationship. They’ll pop in and say, ‘I want size 10, I want that colour, see you next year.’ It doesn’t have to be buying loads all the time—they know the quality is there and they’ll have it for years.”
That quality focus is deliberate. “That’s the whole idea of the shirts—buy once and you’ll have it. And when we know what customers like or don’t like, or if they prefer something else, we can adapt. You get ideas and feedback straight away, sometimes reassurance you’re on the right track, or a nudge to try something new.”
For those at the show, Ballybar Ireland is easy to find: “We are in Hall 4, stand J11, on a corner stand just right up from the main entrance,” Ciara says. And for those who can’t make it in person, the brand is equally accessible online at ballybarireland.com or on social media as Ballybar Ireland.
In the bustle of the RDS, Ballybar’s stand is more than just a shopping stop—it’s a meeting point, a place where customers feel known. For Ciara, that’s not just good business; it’s the heart of what makes the brand work.
