25-05-2025
Irish Grown Wool Council appoints new chair
At the Irish Grown Wool Council's recent annual general meeting (AGM), Brian McInerney was ratified as the new chair for a two-year term to lead the organisation.
Brian McInerney is a Senior Counsel and member of the Inner Bar. He has been a practicing barrister since 1994.
In January 2023, Brian was co-opted onto the council of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society for a period of one year. In that role he was tasked with reviewing matters of governance.
Brian McInerney Source: IGWC
Along with being a seasoned legal professional, Brian McInerney also has a deep, personal connection to the Irish wool sector through his own experience as a sheep farmer based in Co. Clare.
McInerney said he was 'very pleased' to become chair of the Irish Grown Wool Council 'at such an important time for Irish wool'.
'Wool is an incredible natural material sustainable, renewable and deeply woven into our cultural identity. Yet for too long, it has been undervalued.
'My goal is to help strengthen the systems that support Irish grown wool and to ensure it gets the recognition and investment that it deserves,' he said.
Irish Grown Wool Council
The Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC) has been to the fore of efforts to reposition Irish wool as a valuable and viable part of the country's rural economy since its formation in April 2023.
The organisation works across sectors from wool quality and presentation, education and outreach, brand and marketing, research and development to governance and funding.
Under McInerney's leadership, the organisation plans to expand its membership and deepen its advocacy efforts, working closely with farmers, policymakers, stakeholders and the public to drive a stronger, more resilient future for Irish grown wool.
The IGWC noted that this is a voluntary position and 'the appointment represents a major step forward for the organisation'.
