When siblings work together in a family business, people often think it’s a recipe for conflict. But in my experience, when they’re on the same page and share a vision, they can make fierce progress. EMP Furniture is a great example of this.

Based in Williamstown, Co. Galway,
EMP Furniture Manufacturers Ltd has been making beautiful, custom-made furniture since 1981. They’ve become a go-to name for furniture in schools, hotels, and hospitals across Ireland.

One thing that stood out to me when learning about EMP Furniture is the immaculate presentation of their business. From their modern reception and office spaces to a workshop where everything has a place and everything is in its place. This focus on efficiency and organisation has helped them create a highly productive and impressive operation.

Their commitment to investing in the growth and long-term future of the business is evident in their willingness to embrace new technology, machinery and production processes. They take pride in doing everything in-house—whether it’s general joinery, finishing, postforming, or solid surface processing—allowing them to offer a complete solution to their clients.

On a side note, brothers
Derek Deane, Adrian Deane, and Mervyn Deane are avid rally enthusiasts, participating in rallies across Ireland. Over the years, their passion for rallying has helped them build strong friendships and business connections within that community, which has also played a role in growing their business.

EMP Furniture is proof that when families pull together, they can achieve amazing things.
If you haven’t already, check out their work here:
www.empfurniture.ie

January 20, 2026
We were delighted to host over 20 companies for a factory tour, discussion on exporting with Gareth Sherry of IWIN , and for a presentation + meet and greet with John Kiely Limerick hurling manager. Congratulations to our team for putting this together. Thank you to all of our visitors and contributors. We look forward to further progression on export cluster discussions over the coming weeks and months. Carnehill Joinery Ltd , Carroll Joinery Ltd , Woodfit - Joinery and Acoustics , Truwood Ltd. , Topform Ltd , Timeless Sash Windows , Western Postform Limited , MFM Joinery , GEM Joinery , W.Howard Kildare , Mivan Ltd , Simon O'Keeffe Pembroke Alliance , Vision Creative Studios , Loughnanes Joinery , Canavan Joinery Services Ltd , Tretzo Aidan McKenna
By Gareth Sherry January 20, 2026
What an amazing week we had in Chicago! Myself, Eoin Ryan from The Galtee Group , and Damian Woods from W.Howard 'The MDF Specialists'​ attended the North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) distributors’ event, with over 1,000 delegates present. I had the privilege to do a presentation on behalf of the Irish Wood & Interiors Network ( IWIN ), showcasing the expertise and capabilities of our member companies. I also shared our collaboration with Cieblink , who are launching a Product Information Management (PIM) software we are starting to implement in the network. It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with dozens of prospective buyers, build key relationships, and generate leads for future business. We were lucky to be hosted by industry experts Freya Hannah (Cieblink) and David Smith from The David Smith Group, who introduced us to many of the top buyers/distributors in the US and Canadian markets. The event was packed with key figures from the North American and Canadian building materials supply industry, particularly woodworking products and sheet materials—a perfect fit for our network. We also had some great experiences exploring Chicago, including seeing 9-time Grammy winner, Buddy Guy, perform live—an unforgettable night! We toured the city and had a productive meeting with David O'Flaherty of Enterprise Ireland USA , who shared that Chicago is home to 200,000 Irish diaspora, 25,000 of whom are in construction—highlighting the strong cultural ties and opportunities for Irish suppliers in this market. The US is open for business—with trade from China down, buyers are actively looking for alternatives. For Irish companies ready to supply, there’s a real chance to make an impact. It was a smashing week, and we’re excited for what’s ahead! Thank you to Frederic Pare and Freya Hannah for the invitation to the event, and to Michael Wilbur for hosting such an excellent gathering.