Meet Sinéad McDonagh, designer and trend forecaster for Penneys

Carol O’Callaghan talks to Sinéad McDonagh, the woman behind the stylish but affordable homeware choices at one of our most popular retailers — Penney’s.

THERE’S a joke doing the rounds about a visiting student who thought the proper response when somebody admired your clothes was to say, “Thanks, Penney’s!”

It’s testament to the popularity of the ubiquitous Irish, and now international, retailer churning out affordable fashion season upon season and it equally applies to its homeware brand, which sees a design overhaul twice a year.