President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly is set to attend the sixth national harvest of wool from Ireland's native sheep breed - the Galway - later this month.

The event, on Saturday, July 18 at Athenry Livestock Mart, will begin with a convoy of wool growers arriving from all four provinces of Ireland, each bringing their annual wool clip to be included in the national Irish wool harvest.

Known as the Galway Wool Meitheal, the event celebrates the collective efforts of farmers working together to restore value, transparency and traceability to Irish wool.

President Connolly will attend the event in recognition of the dedication and commitment of Irish wool growers who, through the Galway Wool Co-operative, are rebuilding a transparent and fully traceable supply chain for Irish wool.

Organisers have said that her attendance "reflects the growing national importance of preserving Ireland's textile heritage while creating new opportunities for farmers, artisans and consumers seeking authentic Irish fibre".

Wool

Galway Wool Meitheal was established to rebuild a transparent supply chain for Irish wool from Ireland's native sheep breed called 'the Galway'.

Organisers have said that wool is an "incredible" Irish fibre that has been largely absent from Irish knitwear, tweed, blankets carpets and rugs for more than 40 years.

Since its foundation, the Galway Wool Co-op has grown from 20 members to almost 50 wool growers from across Ireland.

Operated entirely by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis, every euro generated is reinvested into the running costs of the cooperative and the organisation of the annual Meitheal Day.

Meitheal

Throughout the event, the wool will be weighed, inspected and prepared for collection before beginning its journey to processors and manufacturers.

This year's wool clip was fully pre-booked by early May, which the cooperative said reflects the increasing demand for traceable, high-quality native Irish wool.

Returning buyers include AOVCA Ireland, supporting growers for a second consecutive year, alongside long standing partners Wool Store Ireland and The Sheep Walk Ranch, Texas, US.

The asking price has remained the same at €2.50/kg with a focus on rebuilding the volume of the clip and reopening markets.

The cooperative will also welcome Ériu, Farm to Yarn, Co. Wicklow, as a new buyer for this year's harvest.

Adding to the celebration this year, members of the Galway Artisans Collective from across Ireland will showcase an exhibition of handcrafted work celebrating the beauty, versatility and heritage of native Irish wool.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the makers and experience first-hand the creativity inspired by this natural fibre.

Galway County Council has sponsored two awards for the exhibition, recognising artisan pieces that thoughtfully reflect the unique qualities of native Irish wool.

The day's celebrations will also recognise excellence in wool production.

Growers will compete for Best Fleece awards in two categories: flocks of 15 sheep and under, and over 15 sheep.

With the national Galway flock numbering fewer than 2,000 sheep, these awards are designed to encourage emerging breeders to place an even greater emphasis on wool quality while recognising the important contribution of both small and established flocks.

The Best Fleece competitions are sponsored by Cormac Tagging and the Galway Sheep Breeders Association.

Innovation

The continued success of the Galway Wool Meitheal has also been strengthened by innovation.

In 2024, the Co-op's Artist in Residence, Michelle Hickey, undertook a pioneering project investigating how significantly the importance of processing methods influence the handle, texture and feel of native Irish wool.

The project demonstrated that many of the long-held misconceptions surrounding Irish wool are linked as much to processing methods as they are to fibre micron or breed type.

Her findings have resulted in Irish wool that is once again wearable and has opened opportunities for designers, crafters and makers seeking premium, traceable Irish fibre with a compelling story of provenance.

Visitors will also enjoy a traditional hand-shearing demonstration as well as the traditional art of hand spinning.

Throughout the morning, members of Oranmore Comhaltas will provide a backdrop of traditional Irish music and set dancing.