21/04/2026
Five years ago this week, we said farewell to our beloved co-founder, Johanna Saar. 💐
Johanna arrived in Dromcolliher in 1962 with her husband Oskar, carrying with her a porcelain-making tradition that stretched back generations in Germany — and a quiet, unshakeable belief that it would find its second home here in Limerick. It did. Under her leadership and guidance, Irish Dresden became one of the world's most respected names in handcrafted porcelain giftware, with our lace-porcelain figurines finding their way into homes of presidents, royalty, and families alike across the globe.
She was a mother, a grandmother, a trailblazer, and an entrepreneur to her core. Named V***e Clicquot's Irish Businesswoman of the Year in 1987, she remained, above all, a craftswoman who cared deeply about the people of Dromcolliher and the exacting standards of her trade.
Five years on, her legacy is very much alive. We're thrilled to share that the Saar family is working to open a new visitor experience here in Dromcolliher, welcoming people to step inside the Irish Dresden story — and that we have re-established Irish Dresden in both the Japanese and UK markets, carrying her work to new generations of collectors, as well as a redesigned website and new collaborations.
Thinking of Johanna this week - her hands sculpted more than porcelain — they shaped a legacy. 🤍
