For a week in (hopefully sunny) May, when the lambs are born, the Spring grass is lush, the rams are lolling about not doing too much, and the wool is being harvested, a week-long immersion in all things wool will be happening. The south-east of Ireland is steeped in craft going back thousands of years, and our farm is located right in the heart of it.

Rare breed sheep on the farm form the core of our micro-enterprise, where organic certified animals are raised in the most natural way possible to produce wool suited for different applications. From when the lamb is in-utero to the day the wool is shorn from an adult sheep, many different factors are at play. Learn how nutrition, climate, breed, geo-location and husbandry affect wool quality, and see hands on how wool goes from sheep to fibre and on to textile.

Each day will bring something new, starting with charting the history of wool within society, how sheep and their wool informed and impacted different cultures, & the sociological impact of wool, and how it impacted women in particular. 

Learn about the history of textiles up to the mid 1900s, and the sea-change in the industry during the 1960s and 70s with the advent of synthetics, and why that happened.

There will be be interaction with the flock, with detailed explanation of the seasonality of the sheep year when living in their natural way, and how wool is impacted by soil health, animal health, and husbandry, from conception right up to age 10 approximately - which is typically the natural lifespan of a sheep.  See a demonstration of correct shearing, where preparation and handling bring maximum potential for wool quality. 

Learn about the first of two main textile crafts: felting (both needle & wet), where participants will learn to felt very fine wool cloth from scratch and wild, textured wool objects from raw fleece. Create unique textile pieces to bring home that showcase the versatility of wool felting.

There will be a guided field trip to include one of the last Victorian water based wool mills with original industrial revolution era looms, Ireland’s National Design and Craft Gallery where the very best of craft is exhibited, plus a visit to Kilkenny Design Workshops to meet and view individual craftspeople in their working studios. ***See note below

Learn about the second of our textile crafts covered during this week - weaving in all it’s forms, and producing textiles on versatile but primitive looms to create two different projects.

At the end of the 5 days, you will have discovered and unpicked the complexity of wool production, the reasons why it went into decline, and how it is being rediscovered and celebrated world-wide. You will have created your own unique pieces from organic certified wool, grown and harvested onsite, and you will then be informed, inspired and entertained by these gentle, beautiful animals that live in total harmony with nature around the world, producing beautiful wool.

Registration and booking will open in early November 2025 with part payment possible to book a place. It will be a limited group for a small number, so as to allow full support in learning, and will include delicious organic home cooked lunches each day, and cakes made with the organic eggs from our hens.

The cost will be €675 Euro for 10am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 10am-3pm Friday, including refreshments, lunch each day and all materials.

***Note: Full day field trip in private minibus with a visit to a centuries-old working textile mill, working studios of craftspeople across a range of disciplines, and the National Craft Gallery of Ireland will be charged extra at approxmiately €65pp - to be confirmed once arranged with providers.