Closure marks the end of an era for Limerick business
FROM presidents of the United States to world-renowned actors, Irish Dresden has a long history of creating intricate handcrafted figures but unfortunately the company has now ceased production in Limerick after 61 years.
The German-Irish company opened in Dromcollogher in 1962 when Johanna Saar and her husband Oskar fled their homeland.
They shortly opened Irish Dresden (originally Muller Volkstedt) in west Limerick.
Four years after arriving in Ireland, Oskar sadly passed away, leaving Johanna to run the business on her own which she did with great success for decades before passing the baton to her daughter Sabina.
“It’s terribly sad that we have to close our doors,” said Managing Director of Irish Dresden, Sabina Saar.
“There just isn’t the market out there for porcelain figures anymore.”
In the company’s 61-year history, it has created figurines for some of the world’s most notable figures including actress Maureen O’Hara and US President John F Kennedy.
“I have many, many, many memories. We’ve had a lot of lovely visitors to Irish Dresden. Maureen visited us quite a lot,” Sabina recalled.
Sabina says one of her fondest memories was of her late mother’s drive to succeed. “She never gave up,” Sabina added.
Johanna was travelling from London to the United States and when at the airport she realised she had her old, out of date passport with her.
“I got a phone call from her in London. She said the best thing we do is to ring the American Embassy and to ring the German Embassy. She never gave up,” Sabina laughed.
“She eventually got an escort into the plane. She got an escort in the States to her hotel and from her hotel directly to the White House and back again.
“She had no passport and no visa, only an invitation to the White House! My mother was like that, she never gave up and she never gave up when things went wrong in the business.”
Sabina is holding a sale of Irish Dresden’s remaining pieces and those who wish to purchase can contact her directly by emailing [email protected]
Sabina and her family wish to thank all who supported Irish Dresden over the years and especially the people of Dromcollogher for their support and in helping set up the business in the first place.