Slow Design, Created Locally

 The interactive outdoor class with Peter Sheehan reemphasised the importance of slow design, foraging locally, and creating locally. I found his perspective refreshing compared to the previous, more mass-market-oriented talks.  During the talk, Peter mentioned that very little manufacturing is done here in Ireland. Many things we buy and consume come from elsewhere. He believes there should be a shift to more products being produced locally and ethically.

 This got me thinking about what industry Ireland could provide manufacturing for, and my mind went to wool. I love to knit and crochet. Is it feasible to manufacture wool in Ireland, not just produce it? Wool has become a secondary product of sheep in Ireland. They are mainly kept for meat, and farmers make little to no profit from wool.

 Our wool is coarser, around 26mm, compared to the finer merinos from Australia and New Zealand, which are around 18 mm. This has led to more imports of finer wools. The other barrier to wool processing in Ireland is the inability to perform a key step. There are “no large-scale wool washing facilities in Ireland. Strict licensing laws make it difficult to get permits.” (Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority, 2025).

 So, wool can be grown in Ireland, but it is usually sent to the UK for washing and then shipped back for weaving and production. Ireland has a longstanding, rich culture surrounding this beautifully diverse material, and it would be wonderful to be able to produce it entirely in Ireland on a large scale. “Irish wools have always been renowned for their unique properties, which allow them to be used in carpet and construction materials alike.” (Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority, 2025).

 A wool feasibility study was published in 2022 to encourage this sector. It aimed to address the issue of low profit in wool. “Despite its versatility in many industries, wool prices remain unacceptably low.” (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 2022). The most well-known wool products sold in Ireland are textiles, which, unfortunately, are often made from imported merino wool, due to a modern preference for softer garments. Most Irish wool is used for carpets or other hard-wearing uses.

 The purpose of the study was to begin developing an “Irish Grown” wool brand, as the story of a material is increasingly a selling point. People care more about sustainability, and it is a point of pride to own something sustainably made. They believe this is where the profit of Irish wool could stem from, if it could be entirely created on the island. They want to promote learning about wool in schools and revitalise the culture surrounding wool in Ireland.

 This shift towards the production of wool in Ireland, combined with our traditional weaving and knitting methods, could work in tandem to create a flourishing local, sustainable industry right here in Ireland, which would suit crafters like me very nicely. The use of wool in slow forms of design, like knitting, reemphasises Peter Sheehan's philosophy of slow, locally made design.