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At his studio/workshop in Ballyferriter on the Dingle Peninsula, Louis Mulcahy designs and makes the very best Irish craft Pottery in exquisite fine porcelain and robust stoneware. Louis Mulcahy has been potting for nearly forty years. The last of the big potteries making all their pottery exclusively in Ireland, his workshop and its sister companies in weaving and lampshade decoration have grown from his and his wife Lisbeth's original two-man operation to employ over forty people.
Having won first prize for pottery in the National Crafts Competition in 1975, Louis decided to move his workshop from Dublin to Dingle. He and Lisbeth left interesting, secure employment; sold their house and invested their savings in the then very risky venture. Louis Mulcahy designs and makes each individual piece. For multiples, such as tableware and lamp bases, he designs and makes and tests the prototypes, before handing over to his assistants. Over the years the pottery continually refined its clay body for durability, and its shapes and glazes for beauty. This devotion to quality has gained worldwide recognition and the pottery has a special reputation for its large pots and rich, lively, lustrous glazes.

After nearly thirty years of customer's requests to be allowed see the work in progress or to try their hand at throwing a pot, Louis Mulcahy has agreed to dedicate an area at the pottery to those visitors who wish to experience the craft for themselves. Hitherto insurance requirements precluded the opening up of the working areas. Now space has been designated for the accommodation of the public's desire to see and experience the work in progress. It is hoped that while providing excellent entertainment, it will also be highly educational and illustrate the high skill and long training required to master the craft. In this room a professional thrower can be seen going through the daily routine of throwing pots. This person will deal with all the questions that may arise pertaining to the process and even allow visitors try their skill at making a shape.  In addition to the throwing experience there will be audio visual demonstrations of the casting and jiggering processes which are used at the workshop. The techniques of glazing and decoration will also be revealed. This new development which will be costly to implement is in response to repeated enquiries from accommodation owners who have asked for the facility for their guests in order to give them an interesting break on their Slea Head tour. Despite the cost the service will be free for a trial period of one year. It will be in addition to the traditional complimentary coffee, telephone, visitor information and email facilities at the pottery. The pottery situated as it is under Clogher Head at the point where one turns back inland towards Dingle on the Slea Head route is the ideal resting place for visitors. It is the natural stopping place on the most westerly tip of Europe.  This new development will add to the reasons for stopping at the Louis Mulcahy pottery. The facility is designed in such a way that it will not interfere with the day to day working of the pottery which is first and foremost a highly professional organisation dedicated to the production of pots of the highest international quality.

Visitor Centre: Monday - Friday 10 - 5 (November - March) Open seven days 10 - 5 (April - October)

Workshop: Monday - Sunday 9 - 5.30 (Winter) Monday - Sunday 9 - 7.00 (Summer)