We have a great tradition for hand spun and hand woven textiles here in Ireland with the earliest known woven material dating back from about 1600 B.C.
We carry a number of Irish made yarns in-store, each with their own rich history.
Studio Donegal
Studio Donegal is a small woollen mill based in Kilcar in south-west Donegal. The practice of handweaving and spinning woollen textiles has been present in this area since the 1700s and Studio Donegal are committed to preserving this tradition and the skills that have been passed down through so many generations. The first mill on this site was built in the 1930s and was branded as Connemara Fabrics in the 1970's. Studio Donegal was first set up by Connemara fabrics in order to preserve the tradition of hand woven fabrics which were becoming less common with the introduction modern power looms.
Studio Donegal was planned to be shut down in the 1980s due to the decline of the textile industry but it was taken over from Connemara Fabrics by Kevin Donaghy, who was to be the manager of Studio Donegal, so that the tradition of hand-weaving would not die out.
Today, Studio Donegal continue to make beautiful hand-woven tweed fabrics, garments and supply Donegal-made knitting wools in an array of tweed shades.
Donegal Yarns
Donegal Yarns Wool spinning mill is also located in Kilcar, Co. Donegal.
A commercial spinning facility was set up in Kilcar in the early 1900’s after a carpet factory was established in the area and opened up a market for wool yarns. The spinning mill created new jobs in this rural area and allowed for an industrial scale production of Donegal woollen yarns.
A new spinning mill was later built in the 1970s which specialised more in knitting yarns and supplied both local and international markets with their signature tweed yarns. The company was re-named Donegal Yarns in 2008 and continues to manufacture quality knitting wools in rich coloured tweed designs.
Kerry Woollen Mills
Kerry Woollen Mills is a 17th-century traditional woollen mill which has been manufacturing woolen products for over 300 years! They produce traditional woolen yarns and woven tweed fabrics and also preserve the heritage of the woollen mill industry in Ireland.
The mill is situated on the ring of Kerry next to the river Gweestin. When it was first built the river was the source of power for the mill's machinery and the water was also used to wash and dye their wool. In 1904 the mill was bought by the Eadie family who are still in ownership to this day. Many of the mill's original 300 year old buildings are still standing and functional today!
c. Vibes and Scribes. Images courtesy of Studio Donegal, Donegal Yarns and Kerry Woollen Mills