The art of crafting with my hands is a cherished gift passed down through generations of makers in my family. Our lineage traces back to clockmakers in the Black Forest region of Germany, from where my great-grandfather arrived in Ireland in the early 1900s in search of a better life.

Initially, he traveled through County Clare on his bicycle, repairing clocks and watches, before eventually establishing jewelry shops in Ennis and Limerick.

My father, Dennis, upheld this tradition of making. He trained as a goldsmith at the Kilkenny Design Workshops under the mentorship of Rudolf Hetzel, before returning to Ennis to run Maurer’s Jewellers.

While I pursued goldsmithing, I quickly realised that the material did not resonate with me. Its abrasive texture felt unyielding to my youthful energy, and the painstaking task of refining a straight line—a chamfer—prompted me to abandon that path.

It was during a visit to local potter Yvonne McInnis in Corofin that I discovered my passion for clay and the potter's wheel. After experiencing the joy of throwing pots, I became an apprentice potter to Stephan Pearse in Shanagarry, County Cork, in 1997.

I dedicated a year to my apprenticeship in East Cork and subsequently enrolled in the Thomastown Pottery Skills Course offered by the DCCOI. Upon completing my training, I continued my apprenticeship under Mandy Parslow in the Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary.

In 2009, I embarked on a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramics at the Limerick School of Art and Design, graduating in 2012 with first-class honors. Following this achievement, I established my current studio in the scenic Burren in Ballyvaughan, County Clare.