A Galway face is taking centre stage as Ireland prepares for its very first-ever Ireland Fashion Week, set to run from October 6 to 10, 2025, in Dublin and beyond. Ashley McDonnell, born in Galway and now based between Paris and Dublin, is the driving force behind this landmark event, a stylish statement that Irish fashion can stand proud on the global stage.
Raised in the west, McDonnell’s childhood dream was to work for Dior in Paris. She has fulfilled that ambition; she now directs digital strategy at Puig, the luxury group behind brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Paco Rabanne. Her Galway roots are deep: her upbringing instilled a love of creativity and design that shines through in her vision for Ireland Fashion Week.
McDonnell discovered a glaring gap in Ireland’s creative scene: though Irish designers were celebrated abroad, there was no homegrown week to showcase them. So she took it upon herself to build one. Her goal? To shine a global spotlight on Irish fashion, rooted in heritage yet looking-forward.
Responses have been exceptional. More than 240 designers applied to take part across seven shows. Included in the line?up are acclaimed names such as Paul Costelloe, Rashhiiid by Rachel Maguire, Sinead Keary and Aoife McNamara. Thirty?four designers will appear in flagship shows, with graduate showcases and spotlight events giving fresh talent their moment.
The event is more than just a series of runways. With a €1 million production budget and a €7.5 million tech fund for participating designers, McDonnell is building a robust, sustainable fashion ecosystem where Irish brands can flourish at home and abroad.
For Galway readers, Ashley McDonnell represents West of Ireland ambition realised. She continues to bridge that gap between Galway and global fashion capitals like Paris. As one interview put it, Ireland Fashion Week is set to become “a major fixture on the international fashion calendar.”
The week will also nurture Irish modelling talent: model Thalia Heffernan is hosting a model boot camp and casting day, helping aspiring models gain runway skills and industry insight.
Also tying the week to Galway’s spirit is McDonnell’s focus on authenticity. Each show carries Irish themes, from heritage textiles like Magee tweed to contemporary streetwear, telling Ireland’s story through fashion.
This October, Ireland’s first fashion week takes flight, and it all started with a Galway native determined to change the narrative. For anyone who’s ever wondered whether Irish fashion could compete on the world stage, Ashley McDonnell is proving that the west can lead the way.
