The 29th edition of Showcase Ireland truly told the story of modern Ireland, with its contemporary European feel blended with the iconic influences of tradition.

The Dublin show mirrored a trend across the country, which has developed into a major tourist destination both for Americans and other Europeans. Where many Americans travel to Ireland seeking Celtic history, fish 'n' chips and perhaps a few holes of golf or a pint of Guinness, European tourists and the Irish themselves are seeking a more urban appeal.

And this cultural shift is showing up in gift and home stores throughout Ireland.

"There is a real shift in these stores," said Ann Cronin, development adviser for Enterprise Ireland, which markets the show and Irish products to American markets. "Where stores used to try to appeal to tourists, now Irish contemporary consumers are coming in and they are trying to satisfy both."

Another merchandising trend the show mirrored is the blurring of lines between various home categories and the stores that carry them. The show itself is a blend of everything from home accents and jewelry to apparel and gifts to tourist knick-knacks.

"The traditional lines between gift and tabletop and homewares are merging," Cronin said. "There's more place for a wider range of products as Irish stores are extending their range to target visitors in addition to Irish consumers."

Enterprise Ireland has worked hard to encourage American buyers to visit the show, and buyers from large department stores and catalogs as well as from small, local Irish/Celtic boutiques made the trip.

One of the hot product trends at the show was the use of mixed media — wood, stone, metals, leathers, ceramics and more were married in unusual combinations to attract a variety of retailers. The organic appeal of the natural materials was often blended with stark contemporary shaping for added drama.

Another trend was the use of color in unexpected combinations or on unusual products. Most popular were "the colors of Ireland" as one glass manufacturer said — dramatic greens and all shades of purple mixed with blues. Reds and yellows also were strong, though they tended to be used as accent colors on neutral palette products. Glass and crystal got a heavy dose of color, with even traditional stalwart Waterford getting into the color game with a line of stemware and vases in various jewel tones.

The soft goods and textiles also followed the overall theme of the show. Rich wool tartans, plaids and tweeds got an updated look through the integration of hot colors like pink, robin's egg blue and lime green.

The Free-Fired Mirror is part of the Natural Elements collection from Franz Caffrey, which uses traditional materials in new shapes for an organic, yet edgy appeal. eLink 544

Celtoi Designs unveiled a line of 12 lamps, each with a contemporary shape and material, but combined with the traditional and mysterious Celtoi Knot symbol. eLink 548