Christmas Plates

From 1970 to 1976 there was no specific theme to the design on the plates. Castlecaldwell, the ancestral home of John Bloomfield, was depicted on the first plate. Then from 1977 to 1983 the Irish Fauna series was introduced, again designed by Jim Kirkwood. In 1978 it was planned to have a dormouse; the adverse reaction to this idea caused it to be changed to a salmon.

From 1984 to 1987 the theme was Irish Flora, designed by Wendy Walsh, a leading Irish artist who specialised in botanical subjects. This series differed from the previous series. In the past the plates had been modelled in relief; now a colour transfer print was used.

]In 1988 the distinctively modelled plate which had been used from the inception of the idea was changed to the 7" Holly Plate with a transfer centre. The only difference from year to year would be the central theme.

In 1991 the series Irish Christmas scenes of 100 years ago was introduced.