The Birr-born designer has been influencing Irish women's dressing styles for more than 35 years and is now at her most powerful and influential. Dunnes Stores is growing its mass of Irish design talents at an incredible rate and as creative director, Carolyn eyes up new talents, oversees the in-house brands as well as driving her own label, Carolyn Donnelly - The Edit. The retail scene here is tough and about to get even more interesting with the arrival onto Grafton Street shortly of & Other Stories, a sister brand to H&M. For some brands, that might be a problem, but not for Donnelly who has been exploring the parameters of a cool lifestyle brand for several years now. She knows her customers' likes and dislikes when it comes to a collection crossing clothing, bags, shoes, jewellery and accessories. Indeed, she has been vigilant about taking her own style story across the full gamut of the brand so it's amounted to quite some love affair when customers can wear her all day, and through the night, and surround themselves with her homewares in every room of the house.