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Last winter saw many terracotta plant pots bite the dust

Last winter saw many terracotta plant pots bite the dust. But those from Kiltrea Bridge Pottery in Wexford have fared better than most: they are fired at a higher temperature and for longer than imported pots, which makes them hardier.

These hand-thrown Irish beauties also come with a five-year guarantee, so if frost shatters them, you get a replacement. (Keeping the compost dry-ish during cold weather helps avoid disaster.) The workshop’s annual sale is a much-anticipated event for those looking for bargains. Prices are around 20 to 40 per cent off retail, with a few even greater reductions. Traditional five-inch pots (perfect for alpines and auriculas), usually €11.95, are now €5; the elegant jumbo lattice pots are reduced from €105 to €75. Hard-to-find rhubarb forcers and seakale pots are a speciality here. The sale is from April 1st-6th, 10am-5.30pm each day, except on Easter Sunday (April 4th), when it is from 2-5 pm. Kiltrea Bridge Pottery, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, kiltreapottery.com, 053-9235107.