Visit some of Ireland’s well known pottery shops and workshops and marvel at the craftsmanship of each carefully handcrafted piece. We list some of the better known establishments where you can buy pottery and perhaps see some of the craftsmen at work.
Louis Mulcahy Workshop
Clogher, Ballyferriter, Dingle, Kerry
Louis Mulcahy is Ireland’s leading potter and his workshop is located near Clogher Strand on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. The workshop also houses extensive showrooms and a café where you can savour fresh local produce. You can even try your own hand on the potter’s wheel in the Visitor’s Centre and have your masterpiece fired in the kiln!
Louis has been making pottery for over 40 years, so stop off at his workshop on the Slea Head Drive and see the wide and varied range. The handmade pottery comes in the form of lamps, vases, giftware, dining, flowerpots, ovenware, mirrors and lots more. There is something to suit all tastes and it makes the perfect gift.
Bandon Pottery
Ardkitt East, Enniskeane, Cork
Bandon Pottery is one of Ireland’s leading studio potteries, renowned for its distinctive range of hand decorated stoneware.
Carley’s Bridge Potteries
Carley’s Bridge, Enniscorthy, Wexford
Wexford has a lot to offer - a depth of artistic and craft skill which has preserved centuries’ old traditions through the generations and yet which has not been afraid to master new styles and modern designs. Handcrafts have a lasting quality and a visual texture that add beauty to home and person and are always different and welcome gifts. We hope that our crafts will lead you to recall happy memories of your visit to County Wexford.
Nicholas Mosse Pottery
Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Nicholas Moose has been a potter since he was seven, and a visit to his family run shop will explain why. His mother’s fascinating and cheerful little museum of antique Irish spongeware and old Irish pine and artifacts will enthral any visitor with an interest in early Irish folk culture. Nick’s current range of brightly coloured earthenware is made from Irish Clay, it is fired with home grown Irish water power, and is decorated with traditional motifs taken from the ‘home’ collection. Its universal charm and appeal have made it loved and sought after throughout the world. You are warmly invited to visit and see for yourself. Mail order catalogue available.
Kiltrea Bridge Pottery
Enniscorthy, Wexford
It is here that the centuries - old handthrown pottery tradition of the Enniscorthy area has been rekindled. And a visit to the Pottery will let you see award-winning craftsmanship at first hand. The potter’s mastery of these three elements is at the root of excellence. Kiltrea Bridge Pottery distinguishes itself as one of the few Irish potteries still using native clays, a unique blend drawn not only from County Wexford, but from Tipperary and Cavan, Cork and Tyrone. At the Pottery, this earthenware clay is cleaned, and blended, ready for the potter’s wheel. In the potter’s skillful hands, the clay is thrown, shaped and rounded. Once thrown, decorations and handles ae applied, followed by a slow drying period. Some pots are glazed, giving subtle shaded effects, while others remain their natural terracotta colour. The kiln and fire then do their work, firing the pots to a high temperature, giving them colour and strength. Beautiful terracotta using traditional methods. And finally, the task is done.
Isu Pots
66 Terenure Road East, Dublin 6, Dublin
What’s New - * Egyptian Pyramid Stones - The best known hieroglyphs tell of the Gods and History of Ancient Egypt. e.g. Ankh, Scarab, Eye of Horus etc.
* Celtic Empire Bowls Isu Pots, makers of the now famous Celtic Ogham Stones, are developing a range of low fired, smokey pottery.
The style and decoration is based on Celtic, Iron Age La Tene style decoration. We call them Celtic Empire Bowls.
Anthony O Brien - Unique Pots
Shivlagh, Bunowen, Louisburgh, Mayo
Anthony O Brien graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1970. He trained as a potter in the USA with a protégé of Marguerite Wildenhain, the Bauhaus potter, and in Denmark with Tue Poulsen. However, the single greatest influence was from the formidable English potter Michael Cardew, in whose Wenford Bridge Pottery he spent the summer of 1973.
Stephen Pearce Emporium & Café
Shanagarry, Cork
Owned and run by the world renowned potter, it is a must for anyone travelling in the area. On view is a huge collection of Stephen’s own work (His four ranges include ‘Terracotta’ Shanagarry’ ‘Celebration’ and the stunning new ‘Gold’), as well as work by other Internationally known crafts people, in fields from tweeds to rich turned wooden platters
