31-07-2025
Galway Wool Co Op Partners with Avoca to Expand Range
Galway Wool Co-Op's fifth annual Meitheal, which will take place at Athenry livestock mart next weekend, coincides with the announcement of the wool co-op's business partnership with Avoca Woollen Mills.
Blátnaid Gallagher of Galway Wool Co-op said: "We are thrilled to partner with Avoca, a brand that shares our passion for quality and Irish tradition.
"This collaboration gives a national platform to our wool growers and demonstrates the strength of a community-based wool harvest,"
The launch of the partnership will take place at the mart on on Saturday, July 19 at 9:00am.
Following a successful pilot project completed last year, Galway Wool Co-Op discovered that not only micron count, but crucially the processing method, plays a central role in how Irish wool is transformed into yarn.
"The findings revealed that with more careful handling, the wool can achieve significantly greater softness, a smoother finish, and improved handle, making it far more suitable for wearables, tweed, blankets, and fine textiles," Gallagher said.
"Over the past four years, the wool harvest has been sponsored by Donegal Yarns, which has spun the wool into durable yarns, best suited for carpets and floor rugs.
Source: David Ruffles
"Now, with enhanced worsted spinning techniques and greater attention to detail, our rare breed native Irish yarn can be used in a much wider range of applications."
According to Gallagher, this opens exciting new possibilities for clothing, accessories, tweed and interior textiles, making the 2025 harvest "one of the most promising and versatile to date".
"Central to this new partnership is Avoca's belief that the wool growers of this rare heritage Irish breed deserve to be rewarded for their dedication.
"The Galway Wool Co-Op said that a trade price of €2.50 per kilo will be achieved for the fifth year running,`' she said.
This consistent price honours the hard work and care of growers who are helping to preserve this rare breed, Gallagher contended.
"These farmers, drawing wool from the four corners of Ireland, take pride in presenting their fleece in the pristine rolled traditional manner, upholding a vital part of our cultural and agricultural heritage," she said.
"The Galway is officially recognised as Ireland's native breed, thanks to over 103 years of commitment from a small group of dedicated farmers.
"They began maintaining the breed's flock book at a time when many of Ireland's weaving and mills were producing world renowned Aran sweaters from this unique Báinín yarn.
"That was before they shifted towards imported merino wool from as far afield as China and South Africa," the Galway Wool Co-Op spokesperson added.
Gallagher explained that, against the odds, these farmers - supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - have grown their breed society into one of the largest in the country.
"While overall flock numbers remain modest, renewed interest in the Galway's distinctive Báinín wool and succulent lamb has given a welcome boost to efforts to ensure the survival and revival of this important part of Ireland's agricultural heritage," she said.
The Meitheal - a traditional Irish gathering for communal work - celebrates the revival of native Irish wool from the Galway sheep breed, and rural collaboration.
"This year, with Avoca Woollen Mills on board, the event represents a powerful step towards sustainable Irish-made from locally sourced wool into textiles and increased market opportunities for wool growers of this treasured breed across Ireland," Gallagher said.
The Meitheal will feature wool-handling demonstrations, a spinning workshop, and an artisan showcase of the many applications and iterations of native Irish yarn from the Galway breed.
