In 2002, Enterprise Ireland introduced Connolly to QVC, the American "electronic retailer" . . . translation: home shopping channel. By 2005, sales had jumped more than 700%. Connolly sold 52,000 units of the crisping dish in a single day on QVC.

But his venture with microwaveable slippers turned out to be less than cozy.

In December 2005, Waveware was sued by Terry and Carol Deichmann, a couple in down-at-heel East St Louis, Illinois. Carol Deichmann, who bought a pair of the 'Cozy Toze' slippers in 2003, alleged that she suffered severe injuries to her feet after following the instructions for microwaving the insoles.

Connolly said the couple was seeking $750,000 in damages from Waveware and QVC. In her complaint she claimed she had lost the ability to "pursue or indulge in her accustomed pleasures, recreations, and to continue her customary way of life as before". Her husband Terry claimed he had lost the "society, consortium, companionship, love and affection, support and care" of his wife.

Earlier this month a jury in the Federal District Court for Southern Illinois took 30 minutes to find for Waveware, against the plaintiffs.

Fighting the law suit proved a costly distraction for Waveware. The company had profits of 1.5m two years ago but would have lost money last year, Connolly said.

In the meantime, like many consumer products companies, Connolly has shifted manufacturing from Longford to China, using the online manufacturers' directory Alibaba. com to get matched up with low-cost manufacturers on the Chinese coast.

Waveware sold just 4,000 'Cozy Toze' units in the US before the law suit, compared to 200,000 units through chemists in the UK and Ireland. He's hopeful that with the lawsuit behind it, Waveware will be able to resume sales with QVC, taking with him another lesson.

"We were selling slippers to ladies that only came in black, " Connolly said. "We're selling them in a sampler of colours now."