Irish candle-maker grows small business into global brand

Kildare Candle Barn, founded as a creative outlet after Jackie Sweeney’s daughters left for university, has transformed from a weekend project into a thriving Irish craft brand with global distribution. The company began six years ago when Sweeney, then working full-time as a planner buyer for a tech firm, poured her first 100 candles—all sold within a weekend. With no formal training, she learned techniques from a UK-based chandler while scaling production alongside her corporate job. Three years later, she left her day job entirely after her first trade show secured wholesale deals with major retailers and an international brand.

Today, the business ships full containers to seven US distribution centers while expanding its retail presence in Ireland each year. Every product, soy wax candles, reed diffusers, and wax melts, remains handcrafted in Sweeney’s rural Kildare studio. The Christmas collection, featuring cinnamon, spice, and pine notes, aligns with peak seasonal demand, while price points range from affordable wax melts to luxury gift sets.

Sweeney will display her products at the Everwinter Christmas Market at the RDS, viewing it as essential for connecting with customers and refining fragrances based on immediate feedback. Past events, including Christmas at the Castle, have confirmed the market’s strong attendance and professional organization. For Sweeney, the market serves dual purposes: strengthening retailer relationships and exploring new opportunities. Next year, the brand will target two additional international markets.

A Finnish customer recently reordered the Hot Whiskey candle after purchasing it at a Dublin Christmas market the previous year. Meanwhile, candle-making workshops, now offered through a Kildare Leo-operated makers collective, will expand to corporate and private clients.

Rising material costs, particularly for wax and freight, continue to squeeze wholesale margins. Despite these challenges, she prioritizes customer relationships and quality over cost-cutting measures.

Everwinter will also allow Sweeney to adjust her product line based on direct customer reactions. At past events, she observed how shoppers responded to specific fragrances, such as The Curragh, a blend inspired by Kildare’s plains.