Peter Molloy

Peter Molloy, known fondly as Molser by his friends. Peter was the very foundation of Kilkenny arts community and social activism over many years. He was a graduate of Limerick College of Art in painting and Carlow Regional in pottery. He was one of the first potters in Kilkenny Design Centre.
He was a pupil of Oisin Kelly, ( 1915 –1981), that great Irish ceramic sculptor who created the statue of Jim Larkin. After his time at Kilkenny Design he moved to a pottery in Staffordshire and gained an expert knowledge of ceramics.
He was an admirer of Sonia Landweer's pottery based in Thomastown and once shared a studio with famous Irish painter Barrie Cooke. Peter Donovan the silversmith and Canice Hogan the gallery owner at Grennan mills, were old friends. Peter gained an expert knowledge of making porcelain and the Japanese inspired craftsmanship of William Leach and Soji Hamada.
His father was a weaver and came to Kilkenny to work in the Woollen Mills on the Bleach road and was a friend of the great Lady Desart. He lived in his formative years in the house beside Tynan's pub, Johns bridge. This was the pub where his friends, Ramie Leahy and George Vaughan, founded Kilkenny Arts week. His old friend Dave Prim another musician friend passed away recently.
Peter had many interests, one especially in music in which he had a great passion. He had several cd compositions to his name. His last album was titled 'Songs From The Barricades'. He recently appeared performing one of his songs, in the documentary George Clooney's Irish Roots.