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Irish Independent

Avoca to craft new range with rare Irish wool

All 4.5 tonnes of yarn from Galway Wool Co-Op's 2025 harvest will be sold exclusively to Avoca and woven into clothing and homewares for a 100pc native Irish wool collection, debuting as part of the brand's autumn-winter collection. Known for its colourful weaves and dedication to supporting Irish producers, for Avoca this partnership is an exclusive collaboration, also supporting a full farm-to-textile journey, championing homegrown materials and traditional Irish craftsmanship in a contemporary way. The announcement comes as Galway Wool Co-Op prepares for the 2025 Meitheal, where wool will be harvested from a rare-breed sheep before being transformed into yarn. The Galway Wool Co-Op was founded five years ago with a mission to restore and celebrate native Irish wool from a rare breed of sheep called 'The Galway'. The strong, white fleeces from this sheep are affectionately known in Irish as 'báinín'. Thanks to the tireless work of The Galway Breeders Sheep Association, with support from the Department of Agriculture, the Galway sheep has been saved from the brink of extinction. Since its establishment, the Co-Op has been committed to achieving a fair and consistent price for the wool that reflects the hard work put in by each grower. Avoca's support through the business partnership ensures that this fair pricing is maintained and offers increased commercial opportunities for wool growers across Ireland, preserving this wonderful native breed. Speaking ahead of the harvest, Avoca managing director Brian Handley said that they are so proud to work with The Galway Wool Co-Op as their first ever commercial partner. 'As one of Ireland's oldest mills, we are keenly aware of the challenges faced by local wool growers, so we are delighted to be able to support the Co-Op in a meaningful way while bringing this beautiful, sustainable product to our customers,' Mr Handley said.