Congratulations to Paul Valley and Clare Walsh, Co-Founders of Newry-headquartered Kukoon, Ireland’s largest rugs retailer, have been named as finalists in the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme.
Brother and sister, Paul and Clare were shortlisted after judges praised their drive and vision in growing the company from humble beginnings to record sales of £21 million and profits of £2.5 million.
Kukoon launched as an online retailer in 2006 and now ships around 8,000 rugs per week to customers across the world. The business is headquartered in Newry and also operates a store in Belfast.
Paul and Clare will now join 23 other shortlisted companies from across the island of Ireland on the nine-month programme, which this year includes a CEO retreat in Canada as well as executive education, mentoring and networking with the wider EY Entrepreneur of the Year alumni community.
The EY Entrepreneur of the Year initiative is considered one of the strongest programmes of its kind globally, working to recognise and support Ireland’s high-growth entrepreneurs.
Paul Vallely, Co-Founder & CEO of Kukoon said:
“Clare and I are thrilled to be named finalists, and we look forward to taking part in this globally renowned programme. For many businesses we are in challenging times, therefore, to be able to join such a brilliant community of entrepreneurs where we can learn from each other is particularly exciting. We are also excited to share with others the strategies and insights we have learnt on our journey with Kukoon.”
“Kukoon’s success has been built upon the support and determination of our team and with these brilliant people at our side we will continue to push the boundaries of performance, innovation and sustainability when it comes to our products.”
Alongside its growth in direct sales, Kukoon has developed partnerships with Woodies and EZ Living Interiors. Through the latter, a selection of Kukoon rugs, including exclusive collaborations and washable collections, are available across all 21 EZ Living Interiors stores. The company has also recently launched its Flatwoven range, which is machine washable and made from eco-friendly fibres.
Rob Heron, Partner Lead for EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Northern Ireland added:
“Kukoon is a great example of what can be achieved when entrepreneurial drive is combined with a clear vision and a strong partnership. Paul and Clare have grown their business from very modest beginnings into a prominent brand serving customers across multiple markets. We are delighted to welcome them into the 2026 programme and wish them every success on the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey.”
This year’s finalists represent sectors including consumer, technology, health and construction. The overall winner will go on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monaco in June 2027.
For more info on Kukoon, please visit:
www.kukoonrugs.com