About

Mountain Ash Atelier evolved out of a deep desire to create beautiful things with my hands. After pursuing a career of demanding academic and professional development I took stock of my life and walked away from everything I had spent years training to do. There followed a period of re-acquainting myself with art and beauty in many forms, not least the exquisite environment we now call home. Living on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland, truly surpasses every dream we ever had of where we would make our home.

We live at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain in our home named for the Mountain Ash, Caorthann in Irish; a small, native tree which provides berries enjoyed by many songbirds. This is a tree steeped in folklore and mythology. In Celtic mythology it is regarded as the Tree of Life and symbolizes wisdom and protection. Irish folklore describes branches being placed under eaves each year to protect homes from storms, and to ward off the mischief of the fairy folk. Nordic mythology purports a branch bent down to save Thor from being swept into the Underworld. The Druids burned it at funerals to symbolize death and rebirth, and it was one of the sacred trees burned at Bealtaine to celebrate new beginnings. In both Celtic and Nordic mythology the first woman was shaped from a Mountain Ash. It is sometimes called ‘The Lady of the Mountain’, as it is a tree that grows in crevices and nooks where no other tree can survive, allowing the weather to shape it and clinging on tenaciously; I could have no better namesake. Mountain Ash Atelier marks my new beginning.

The Beara and West Cork still contain wild places, where you can be utterly alone, and see and feel only natural things; places where you can feel how small and transient we are; where you can look upon ancient mountains and shorelines carved by the ocean, and be reminded to enjoy whatever time you have, it is so fleeting in comparison. These places inspire me to create tiny reminders; reminders to slow down and look for beauty in unexpected places, to celebrate change in our lives, to take new paths and make space for yourself in your world. I hope by sharing what I create, you might carry a little of this magical place wherever you go, and remember to revel in beauty and being alive every day.

- Ash