Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is pleased to announce that planning permission has now been granted for the redevelopment of the former Bank of Ireland building in Thomastown.
This significant milestone allows the project to move forward with the establishment of a new Ceramics School, which will host the DCCI Academy in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in delivering their second Level 8 course based in Thomastown, the BA (Hons) in Ceramics Skills and Design.
This is an exciting moment for design and craft education in Ireland. The Thomastown Ceramics School will be a hub of creativity and innovation, providing students with world-class training in a historically significant building. We are grateful for the community’s patience and support as we progressed through the planning phase.
Mary Blanchfield
Interim CEO, DCCI
Originally scheduled to commence in September 2025, the plans to deliver the new course faced unforeseen delays due to issues with the building planning permission application and process. With the approval now secured, the building project is on track for the construction to commence from August 2025 with a project completion date of August 2026. The new course is now scheduled to start in September 2026.
We are delighted to continue our strong partnership with DCCI in delivering exceptional higher education in craft and design. The new Ceramics School in Thomastown represents a major investment in the future of Ireland’s creative industries and in practice-based educational provision.
Dr. Paddy Tobin
Head of School of Design & Creative Arts at ATU
