Three days, plenty of preparation and a very proud moment for our little Irish family business.
If you’d told us when we first started Little and Loveable that we’d one day be exhibiting our products at the National Ploughing Championships, I’m not sure we’d have believed you!
But in September 2026, that’s exactly where we found ourselves, surrounded by our personalised Medal Boxes, County Crested Hair Bows and Keyrings, ready to introduce Little and Loveable to people from all over Ireland.
And what an experience it was!
Anyone who has ever prepared for a big event will know there’s a lot more involved than simply turning up with a few products!
In the weeks leading up to the Ploughing, we were busy making stock, organising displays, packing boxes and trying to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything.
With nearly 300 hair bows, almost 300 keyrings and a selection of our personalised Medal Boxes to prepare, there was certainly plenty to keep us occupied.
And, as with most things in a family business, it all had to fit around everyday family life!
But seeing everything finally come together on our stand in the Local Enterprise Office Carlow tent made all that preparation worthwhile.
One of the loveliest parts of the three days was getting to explain the story behind our products.
Our personalised Medal Boxes were inspired by John’s collection of GAA medals. We wanted to create something that would give children a special place to keep and display the medals they’d worked so hard to earn.
Rather than having medals tucked away in a drawer or hanging somewhere gathering dust, we loved the idea of creating a personalised keepsake that could be treasured long after the sporting days were over.
At the Ploughing, it was wonderful to show people how each Medal Box can be made personal to the child receiving it.
Whether they’re passionate about Irish Dancing, Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie, Horse Riding, Gymnastics, Soccer or another sport, we can create a box that reflects their own sporting journey.
From their name and sporting figure to hair colour, kit colours and other personal details, no two boxes need to be the same.
Seeing people stop, take a closer look and realise just how personalised the boxes could be was a real highlight for us.
Of course, we couldn’t head to the National Ploughing Championships without bringing along our County Crested Hair Bows and Keyrings!
Our bows actually have a lovely family connection.
I originally started making them for our daughters, Charlotte and Robyn, to wear in their club colours when supporting their dad in a county final.
What started as something for our own girls has since grown into a collection of crested bows and keyrings for supporters across Ireland.
And where better to celebrate a bit of county pride than at the Ploughing?
It was lovely meeting people from different counties and chatting about their clubs, teams and sporting connections.
There was one moment during the three days that really stayed with us.
A gentleman arrived at our stand and told us that Little and Loveable was actually on his list of businesses he wanted to visit at the Ploughing.
Our little business. On someone’s list!
When you’re working away behind the scenes, making products, packing orders, updating your website and trying to get your business noticed, it’s easy to forget that people are actually seeing what you’re doing.
So to hear that someone had specifically planned to visit us was such a lovely surprise.
It’s probably a small thing to some people, but to us it meant an awful lot.
And it’s exactly the kind of moment that makes running a small business so rewarding.
One of the biggest things we took away from the National Ploughing Championships was just how valuable it is to meet customers face to face.
When you run an online business, so much of your day is spent behind a screen or working away making products.
At the Ploughing, we got to see people’s reactions, answer their questions, hear their stories and explain the thought that goes into each of our keepsakes.
It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet other Irish business owners who understand the work that goes into building something of your own.
We’re incredibly grateful to Local Enterprise Office Carlow for giving us the opportunity to exhibit alongside so many wonderful businesses.
We started Little and Loveable with a few simple ideas inspired by our own family.
To see those ideas grow into products that people from all over Ireland were coming to see was something really special.
Of course, there were long days, tired feet and plenty of work involved, but we’d do it all again.
The Ploughing gave us the chance to introduce our business to new customers, make connections and, most importantly, share the story behind what we do.
We’re very proud that our products are personalised and finished here in Carlow, with materials and packaging sourced from Irish suppliers wherever possible.
And while we’ve big dreams for where Little and Loveable might go in the future, we’ll always want to keep that personal, family-business feel at the heart of everything we do.
To everyone who visited our stand, bought a bow or keyring, admired our Medal Boxes, entered our competition, followed us online or simply stopped for a chat — thank you.
Every purchase, conversation, recommendation and word of encouragement means so much to a business like ours.
We came home from the National Ploughing Championships 2026 tired, grateful and excited for what lies ahead.
And who knows where Little and Loveable might be this time next year!
From our family to yours, thank you for being part of our journey.
Ana & John
Little and Loveable | Handcrafted in Carlow
Looking for a special gift for a child who loves sport?
Our handmade personalised Medal Boxes are designed to celebrate their achievements and give their hard-earned medals a special place to call home.
Explore our collection of Personalised Medal Boxes, Crested Hair Bows and County Crest Keyrings at www.littleandloveable.com.
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Stephan
Its Amazing