How did you get started?

I've worked in partnership in Bond and Cuffe Pottery at the Craft Courtyard, Malahide for just over a year now. I had been building up the business from home on a part time basis since 1996, while simultaneously working for other potters.

What did you do before you got in to the industry?

I studied ceramics in the University of Limerick, followed by a two-year course in pottery skills which was run and fully funded by the Crafts Council of Ireland. Afterwards, I worked fulltime for various potters, which was invaluable as I learnt first hand from their different techniques.

What are you working on right now?

Much of our business comes from wholesale orders and not individual commissions. We supply household pottery to about 12 shops around Ireland, some on a seasonal basis.

The Crafts Fair, which takes place every Christmas in Dublin, is a good source of retail business for us as we don't lose what we do through wholesaling. So, we'll be putting a lot of our energies into that.

What's an average day in your job like?

Start about 9am. Spend the first half-hour opening the post and dealing with other administration issues. The rest of the day is spent working on orders that have to be filled. Usually, when I start one job I like to finish it, so if I start glazing I'll generally spend the whole day doing it.

What's the best thing about your job?

I like the flexibility, being able to dictate what I do and when I do it. If I don't feel up to doing a job one-day, I can simply put it off until another day.