Irish hotel furniture manufacturer O’Donnell Designs has confirmed it has ceased trading, impacting around 20 jobs.

The company, which is based in Skibbereen, is owned by founder Jim O’Donnell and cited that a tough market was the main reason behind the closure.

Some 10 years ago, the business saw 80% of production ship to London’s hotel furniture market, but the fallout from Brexit pushed the company back to operate in its native homeland.

Subsequent years has seen the market decline and, despite a positive start to 2025 with a small profit, the market collapsed putting pressure on cashflow.

A client then pulled a hotel project in Cork Harbour earlier this year, which put more financial strain on the business.  

“To be perfectly honest the Irish market is difficult, almost impossible,” the business said. “We found it very hard to make a margin or to hold a margin.”