Mr O’Sullivan of Dublin-based Irish International Antique Fairs Ltd, has been operating for 34 years and works very closely with the Irish Antique Dealers Association whose own annual fair he arranges every autumn.
Through Mr O’ Sullivan members of the association and other leading Irish dealers are invited to exhibit at the summer Antiques For Everyone fair from August 3 to 6 next year (2000).
They will occupy a special pavilion within the fair where they can promote the interests of the Irish trade. Reciprocally, their presence adds an international dimension to the NEC’s top antiques event and the pavilion can be seen as a forerunner of further such overseas promotions.
Regular exhibitors at the NEC will be invited to show at Dublin’s major spring fair, The Irish International Antiques and Fine Art Fair from March 17 to 19 and The Belfast International Antiques and Fine Art Fair at the King’s Hall, Belfast from March 3 to 5, 2000.
Mr O’Sullivan told the Antiques Trade Gazette: “We welcome this innovative arrangement with the British trade which will truly internationalise fairs in Ireland for the first time.”
His view was echoed by Limerick dealer George Stacpoole, president of the IADA (which has members throughout Ireland), who said: “It’s an exciting expansion for the association which will internationalise our profile and bring benefits to trade on both sides.”
Describing the reciprocal agreement as mould-breaking, NEC Fairs Director Fran Foster added: “For the first time British dealers will be warmly welcomed into the booming Irish antiques scene and in return we can further internationalise our fairs with the pavilion of Irish dealers.”
Fairs deal to boost international trade
UK: CENTRE Exhibitions, who organise the Antiques For Everyone fairs at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, and the top Irish fairs organiser Louis O’ Sullivan are collaborating on a plan to internationalise both the NEC fairs and the Irish trade.
