THERE was a huge turnout for last weekend’s Galway Wool Meitheal sale and exhibition    of produce in the Athenry Mart.

A feature of this year’s event – now in its third year – was the ‘Meeting of Hands’ art exhibition featuring produce made from the wool grown on the native Galway Sheep breed.

Curated by Michelle Hickey, the exhibition highlighted the unique qualities of the Galway Sheep wool produce – ‘Galways’ are now a rare breed of sheep with less than 3,000 in the world.

Claire McGovern, Artistic Director of Rhyme Studios in New York, travelled to Athenry Mart on Saturday for the exhibition which appropriately took place in the sheep pens section of the facility.

The exhibition, which was sponsored by Aviation Graphix, Donegal Yarns and Galway Wool Co-op, drew an audience of over 500 people, all curious to find out more about Galway Wool products.

As well as the exhibition, Saturday’s event also featured the ‘nuts-and-bolts’ business of selling 5,500kgs. of Galway Wool at a gross price of €2.50 per kg, at a time when general wool prices are as low as 20/25 cent per kg.

Blátnaid Gallagher, Secretary of the Galway Wool Co-op, told the Farming Tribune that Saturday’s event had been a wonderful success on both fronts – the wool sale and the Meeting of Hands exhibition.

“We had about 70 wool producers with excellent quality cleaned and rolled Galway wool all sold at a premium price.

“But we just couldn’t believe the response to the Meeting of Hands exhibition. About 500 people turned up for it – there was just incredible interest in the exhibition and the setting in the sheep pens of the mart was perfect,” said Blátnaid Gallagher.

The occasion also had a musical backdrop with Oranmore Comhaltas laying on traditional fare with their set dancers in action too.

Pictured are: Vincent Costello, Sean Kilkely and Henry Hughes examining the wool at the Galway Wool Meitheal.