Irish wool is being ‘wasted’ - but you can spin your own in Leitrim

A new course is being offered in Leitrim that explores the ancient art of hand spinning, giving participants the chance to transform raw sheep’s wool into handmade yarn.

The course will take place at the Organic Centre in Rossinver and will be taught by Eimear O’Neill. Titled ‘Introduction to Wool Handspinning,’ the course is scheduled for Sunday, March 21.

According to the Irish Guild of Weavers, spinning wool and flax was essential for rural life and self-sufficiency, supporting vibrant cottage industries and producing yarn for clothing. Traditionally, rural handweavers worked from home, supplying their own needs and often those of their neighbours. From the thirteenth century onwards, more organised urban craftsmen weaved for a larger domestic and export market.

People today can learn a lot from this heritage craft, particularly in understanding how sustainable it was as a method of clothing production, an important lesson in light of the rise of fast fashion. 

The fashion industry is now the second-largest industrial polluter, responsible for 10 percent of global pollution, surpassing emissions from air travel.

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Much of today’s raw wool in Ireland tends to go unused, yet it remains the perfect fabric for Irish people.

“Wool is known for its warmth and breathability - essential for Irish winters. Sadly, most of the wool in Ireland has become a waste product, ending up in storage or used as compost,” explained Eimear.

Eimear also offered tips for cost-saving during financially challenging times, “Knitting yarn can be expensive, but you can make your own, for free, using locally available fibre from sheep and alpacas,” she advised.

Participants can join the course on March 21 at the Organic Centre to learn this skill and begin their own wool-spinning journey.

For those who wish to continue, Eimear will follow up with a separate ‘Knitting for Beginners’ course in May.

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The course can be booked online here. Discounts are available for those on income support through ringing the centre on 071 98 54338.