Limerick-based ceramic manufacturer, Irish Dresden, has plans to open a new visitor experience in Dromcollogher.

Investor in the company and grandson of founder Johanna Saar, Kristian Schnittger-Saar, said they’re planning to open the centre to showcase the history of the company and its origins in Germany. There are also plans to organise demonstrations for customers and the public on how they make the porcelain and they hope to open a cafe, shop, retail park and showroom in tandem with the visitor experience.

“The plan is to have a real destination for people to come and see the Irish Dresden experience,” remarked Kristian. This would include factory tours, workshops for adults and children and if people are interested in ceramics they can make or paint a figurine. They’re also planning to use an area in the factory to display a complete collection of model trains from around the world. 

“Our idea is to have a real interactive centre for the whole community, for tourists and locals alike to be able to come and enjoy.”

Kristian said they’re in the initial stages of the application process and Irish Dresden is in talks with various government agencies about grants. “We’ve engaged consultants to help us in the marketing and what the centre needs to have in order to be considered a real tourist attraction given that we are part of the Wild Atlantic Way.”

Irish Dresden is also in talks with Newbridge Silverware with a view to undertaking a collection with them. The Limerick-based company has worked on a number of collaborations with other companies and designers over the years including its Irish Dresden x Hello Kitty collection in partnership with Sanrio, a Japanese entertainment company. The collection encompasses four porcelain replica figurines of Hello Kitty in different colours.

As a result of Hello Kitty celebrating its 50th anniversary, Irish Dresden has revisited some of its designs. The figurines went up for sale on their website and the reaction to them has been very good. “They’re finding homes all over the world,” said Kristian.

Irish Dresden has been presented to many signatories over the years and even made its way to the White House in Washington DC, USA. “The most recent presentation was to the Irish Ambassador Damien Cole in Japan,” remarked Kristian. “At the moment they’re moving the Irish Embassy to a new building and he’s going to display the piece proudly at the entrance to the embassy so that was quite a nice coup for us in terms of marketing and helping us to reignite the brand out in Japan.”

Joanna Saar travelled to Washington and presented Nancy Reagan, the First Lady at the time, with a piece they presented to President Jimmy Carter.

All products made by Irish Dresden are 100% Irish made and handcrafted in Dromcollogher.

Photo: Managing director of Irish Dresden Sabina Saar and Kristian Schnittger-Saar pictured visiting Mr Takarada, owner of a Dresden store in Yokohama, Japan.

From the Limerick Leader.