A large crowd turned up yesterday at the RDS to see the Tánaiste open the three-day Showcase Ireland international craft, gift, fashion and interiors fair.
Ms Harney said she was surprised at the youthfulness of the overall winner of the best new product award, when she presented the prize to Mr Alan Ardiff.
His witty jewellery is called "M50 - going nowhere".
Many of the 2,000 overseas buyers came from the US, encouraged by the Craft Council of Ireland promotion in December, which Ms Harney attended in New York. Others came from Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan.
Most of the 650 exhibitors at the fair are small operations, scattered around the country, Ms Harney noted.
Showcase Ireland is Ireland's largest trade fair and has taken place annually for 26 years as part of the Craft Council's ongoing promotion of crafts.
There is much to see, including a craft village with over 100 stands, and an enormous hall of fashions, knitwear and intriguing interior designs and gifts.
Orders of €60 million (£47.2 million) are anticipated at the fair, and this amount will be quadrupled by further orders during the year,
The fair, which is open to trade buyers only, runs until January 23rd and opens from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.