Derry City native is seeking to continue her line of hand-crafted, authentic Irish earthenware.
METHUEN, Mass., March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Ann Mullan, a native of Derry City, Northern Ireland, is on a mission. She wants to keep producing her own unique brand of Irish pottery, Aranware®, and she wants to ensure that it is authentically Irish.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140318/PH85399-a
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140318/PH85399-b
Mullan, who has lived in Methuen, Mass., since the late 1990s, designed the Aranware Collection and has successfully marketed this pottery in the U.S. and abroad. Aranware has been sold in American gift stores and on the QVC shopping channel. Aranware is warm cream-colored earthenware, with embossed designs that reflect classic Aran knit stitches from old Ireland.
When the manufacturing facility in Derry closed recently, Mullan started her own company, Kara Irish Pottery (www.karairishpottery.com), vowing to maintain production of these timeless pieces. Rather than outsourcing production to a foreign country, she is seeking to ramp up a new shop in Derry.
"I think it's very important to maintain the original vision and feel of this pottery," says Mullan. "In order to do so, we need to keep production in Ireland. We want to celebrate the hand-crafted, heritage-inspired collections that support the history of Ireland, and we also want support the local economy."
Mullan needs $65,000 to purchase equipment, moulds and supplies for the new Derry facility. To raise this money, she has launched a Kickstarter campaign, appropriately titled "Keeping It Irish." She is looking for support from Irish-Americans, other Irish emigrants and all those who appreciate fine craftsmanship in pottery.
Depending on their donation level, contributors will receive coffee mugs and place settings of various sizes. To donate or view a "Keeping It Irish" video, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/1017572600/keeping-it-irish.
In addition to place settings and mugs, Kara Irish Pottery Ltd. produces natural Irish stone coasters that are created from the golden sandstone shoulders of the Emerald Isle and decorated with the work of local artists.
"We really want to keep producing these beautiful items that embody so much Irish tradition," says Mullan, "but we need some help. We're hoping that Irish folks from all over the world will help support this project. It's an important part of our heritage."
For further information or to contribute to the "Keeping It Irish" campaign, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/1017572600/keeping-it-irish or the Kara Irish Pottery website, www.karairishpottery.com. Mullan can be reached directly at Email or 800-430-2008.