Carrig National School

Lawrence O Kelly a potter from Galway comes every year to fifth and sixth class to do pottery over the time of three or four days.

On the first day Lawrence comes and tells the class about pottery, the different clays and the different types of tools for the clay.

Everybody makes three pieces of pottery, one big piece and two smaller pieces. There are plenty of things to make like mirrors, bowels, cups, masks, ornaments, models etc. If anybody needs help Lawrence or his daughter Shiofra will help them.

After everybody is finished making their three pieces of pottery Lawrence then brings back them to his workshop in Galway and goes over all the pieces again so the small pieces attached onto the pottery won’t fall off in the kiln.

After Lawrence goes over all the pieces he then puts the pottery in the kiln over night at 1000 degrees

A week later Lawrence comes back with everybody’s pottery and explains what happened to the pottery while it was in the kiln.

When Lawrence comes back fifth and sixth class then glaze or paint their pottery. Lawrence explains how to use glazes and brings in a few examples of what happens to the glazes after they are put in the kiln and then everybody gets to work painting and glazing their pottery.

Lawrence takes the glazed pottery back to his workshop and puts them in the kiln at 1010 degrees for ten to twelve hours. The glazes change colour in the kiln and look shiny.

Lawrence comes back the third time with the finished product and the pottery is put on display in the front entrance.