A NEW creative landmark in Ennis is offering visitors a space to learn the craft of pottery, alongside a dedicated yoga space.
Founded by potter Kevin Keane and yoga instructor Dzana, Potadóir brings together handmade ceramics and holistic wellness under one roof, creating a vibrant community hub in Tobartascain, Ennis.
As local shoppers look for unique, Irish-made gifts ahead of Christmas, the studio is also showcasing a stunning pottery selection inspired by The Burren landscape, alongside hands-on workshops and studio memberships.
The journey to establishing this unique business began in 2022 following a life-altering car crash. Dublin native Kevin turned to ceramics as a therapeutic and grounding practice, quickly developing a deep passion for the craft. Eager to study how different cultures utilize clay, Keane spent much of 2023 traveling across Europe and Northern Africa by foot and land, visiting master potters, museum collections, and specialist masterclasses in Portugal, Spain, France, and Scandinavia.
Returning to Ireland in late 2023 to prepare for winter markets, he set up a temporary wheel in his grandmother’s sunroom in Spanish Point, working obsessively up to 19 hours a day. As he notes, Kevin was “fully with the intention of only being in Clare for a few weeks. And I did a market then in Miltown Malbay and it went very well and I met some local people… and Clare in general has a habit of doing it, kind of it said, ‘Oh, you’re here for a few weeks, no you’re going to stay forever.’”
He secured a renovated stone cow shed near Spanish Point where he operated for a year and a half. It was during this period that he met his now partner Dzana, who was teaching yoga in Miltown Malbay. The pair immediately recognized a natural philosophy linking their disciplines.
Recognizing the potential to build something bigger, Keane and Dzana expanded into Ennis, opening the doors of An Potadóir 10 months ago.
Operating from a spacious building, the business manages wholesale tableware alongside public classes and wellness events.
The studio also hosts crossover events, including immersive five-course mindful dining experiences featuring meals cooked by local chefs served on Potadóir tableware in the yoga studio.
Kevin admits that strong support from the Clare Local Enterprise Office (LEO) has been crucial to Potadóir. “They’re helping us to just get to a level that we would find it really, really hard to get to by ourselves,” he notes. An initial LEO Expansion Grant enabled a high-quality fit-out of the Ennis venue before opening. In addition, Clare LEO paired Keane and Dzana with an experienced small-business mentor to help navigate operational planning and financial administration. Clare LEO has also nominated Potadóir to represent Clare at Showcase, Ireland’s international craft and trade fair taking place at the RDS in Dublin this coming January.
While state enterprise grants and mentorship have provided essential structural foundations, Keane emphasizes that long-term success ultimately depends on the support of local residents.
As the festive season approaches, Potadóir invites the local community to discover what the studio has to offer. “I’d love people to check us out, try out the yoga or a pottery class, or to visit our website.”
Visit the Potadoir website here.
