What the weekend will look like:

Friday:

Travel to Baltimore and take the 2 PM ferry to Cape Clear. It’s a scenic 45 minute crossing. We’ll get you unpacked at your accommodation before kicking the weekend off with a studio visit, glazing your pots for the soda and gas kiln, and I’ll introduce you to some native clay from the island which you’ll be able to hand build a small bottle with. We’ll then head to the pub for dinner.

Saturday:

In the morning we’ll build the two experimental mini fast fire kilns. One will be used with salt and the other will be used with soda. We’ll load the salt one by tumble stacking your native clay bottles, and then we’ll load the fast fire soda. We’ll break for lunch and then spend the rest of the day firing these two kilns. Before dinner we’ll load up the barrels with your pots and light them to burn through the evening. We’ll wrap up the day with dinner at the accomodation, Eirí na Gréine.

Sunday:

On Sunday morning the gas and soda kilns will be lit and will be fired all day. Today you’ll learn about introducing soda into a kiln as well as how to achieve a reduction atmosphere in fuel burning kilns and what they do. There’ll be a workshop where you can make your own candle with Sadhbh (you could even use one of your barrel fired pots). There’ll also be some time to use Jenny’s sauna and cold plunge into the sea. We’ll finish the weekend with a final dinner in the pub. After dinner we’ll head back to Eirí na Gréine to unload the two mini fast fire kilns.

Monday:

Monday morning we’ll head to down the studio to unload the gas and soda kiln, we’ll then pack up your pots before you head off on the 12pm ferry back to the mainland.

What to Bring:

• 16 bisque-fired stoneware pots mug size or equivalent.

• Soda kiln - 4 stoneware pots, I recommend using St Patricks Buff, ES5 original white, ES90 flecked, Ming porcelain. 15cm maximum height 14cm maximum width.

• Gas kiln - 5 stoneware pots, I reccomond using St Patricks Buff, ES5 Original white, ES90 flecked. 15cm maximum height 14cm maximum width.

• Mini fast fire soda kiln - 2 small stoneware pots, 12cm maximum height 10cm maximum width. I recommend using ES5 original white, or any other raku clay body.

• Barrel pit firing - 5 stoneware pots, I recommend using ES5 original white, or any raku clay body. 20cm maximum height 15cm maximum width.

• Work gloves.

• Respirator mask.

• Weatherproof clothing.

What is Included

• 3-day workshop on Oileán Chléire

• All workshop materials and firings

• Accommodation and 2 meals a day.

• Return ferry to Cape Clear Island

Not Included:

• Transport to Baltimore

• Breakfasts

• Alcohol and snacks

• Local link island taxi

Exploring the island

In your down time you can explore the island. It’s a remote rugged place, with a number of walking loops spotted across the island, and there’ll be plenty of migratory birds around in September.

Accommodation Details

The accommodation is very basic. Bunk beds and shared rooms, with two communal bathrooms.

Accessibility

This long weekend will involve hilly walking, but there is a small local link taxi that is available. There are two ground floor bedrooms and one ground floor bathroom and the rest are up a set of stairs. If you have any questions or concerns around accessibility please get in touch

Important

This weekend is focused on experimentation, learning, and experience. There’s no guarantee your pots will be successful or that they will all fit in the kilns. The weekend is suitable for all skill levels but is focused on learning and experimenting rather than production.

Please only book if you are able to bring your own bisc fired ceramics with you, please bring up to 16 bisc stoneware pots. These will be split across the kilns. There is a possibility that not all your pots will fit in the kilns, we will fit as many in as possible while keeping it a fair split. Please keep to the maximum sizes stated earlier. Any larger pots will count as multiple pieces. No plates please. You are welcome to bring extra pots encase there is additional space.

Please make sure you bring everything you could possible need over the weekend. This is a very rural place and the weekend will reflect that. There is a small shop on the island with limited opening hours, there is no pharmacy, no doctor, no off license, no ATM. I will not be able to provide anything other than what is on the included list.

If you are coming from overseas then you are welcome to ship your pots to me, get in touch and we can arrange

Please let me know of any dietary requirements as soon as possible.

Due to the nature of being on an island this workshop is weather dependant.

Price - €550

€275 booking deposit required to secure your place, remaining balance due end of July. Deposit is non-refundable unless your space gets filled.