Galway's largest pottery company, Judy Greene, is planning an export drive in the United States and Britain with a newly designed range based on the landscapes and colours of Connemara.

The company, named after founder Ms Judy Greene, is attempting to capitalise on the all-time high demand for Irish pottery and craftware in Europe and America.

Set up in 1982 by Ms Greene, the firm is now one of the largest pottery companies in the State and she describes its plans to increase exports as the "next logical step".

The company now employs more than 25 people and she expects to recruit more if the phenomenal growth of recent years is "consolidated".

She says that while her brand name is reasonably well established at home, there is significant potential for selling pottery in Britain where all things Irish are currently in vogue.

The plans involve a major marketing campaign and contrast sharply with the firm's humble beginnings when Ms Greene worked by herself in a 20 sq ft room occupied only by an old kiln.

"As soon as people think of pottery, they think of hippies, but this is now a very important industry for the country," says Ms Greene. She adds that in terms of design, "shamrocks and shillelaghs have had their day".

Younger customers are looking for something Irish, but not hackneyed symbols, she says. Responding to this trend has underpinned the expansion in the business.

She runs the company along with her husband, Mr Paul Fox, and points out that the success attained since 1986, when the popular Bluebell range was introduced, has been achieved at some personal cost.

"My biggest problem with the company's success, is that it means I don't have as much time for our children as I would like and holidays are a rarity."

The juggling of family and job is especially difficult for her as she remains solely responsible for the design of the various pottery ranges.

"The shops which buy our pottery are always looking for new designs from me, so I have to stay fresh and respond to the feedback from our customers."

She has firm ideas about the place of pottery within a house. "I believe pottery should have everyday use and not be kept in a press - if it breaks, it breaks," she says.

Hers is a business where the gift for creativity has to be matched by a business acumen for business.

The demise of Arklow Pottery has prompted some questions about the sector generally.

"I was sorry to see Arklow closed down and no doubt competition from the Far East played a part, but our products are handmade and appeal to people who don't like their pottery coming out of huge anonymous machines."

Her search for ideas is endless. For example, she came up with the Bluebell range when she spotted a group of the flowers in the garden of a house she was considering buying.

While the export market is where she expects growth, labour shortages could undermine those plans.

"There is only one college turning out potters and there are only 11 people on the course, so we are in desperate need of new people".

Employing foreign potters does not necessarily solve the problem as obtaining work permits can take a long time.

While Ms Greene says pottery is not a "big money business", there is a modest living to be made - for those who accept long hours and few holidays.