IT’S that time of year again when the Galway Wool Co-op hold their fifth Annual Meitheal on this coming Saturday, July 19, in the Athenry Livestock Mart, from 9.30am to 11.30am.

This year’s event marks a significant milestone as the co-op enters its first business partnership with the renowned Avoca Woollen Mills, one of Ireland’s oldest and most respected producers of blankets and apparel.

Following the successful pilot project completed last year, the Galway Wool Co-op discovered that not only the micron count, but crucially the processing method, plays a central role in how Irish wool is transformed into yarn.

These findings revealed that with more careful handling, the wool can achieve significantly greater softness, a smoother finish, and improved handle—making it far more suitable for wearables, tweed, blankets and fine textiles.

Over the past four years, the co-op’s wool harvest has been generously sponsored by Donegal Yarns, who have spun the wool into durable yarns, best suited for carpets and floor rugs.

Now, with enhanced worsted spinning techniques and greater attention to detail, our rare breed Native Irish yarn can be used in a much wider range of applications.

This opens exciting new possibilities for clothing, accessories, tweed and interior textiles, making the 2025 harvest one of the most promising and versatile to date.

Central to this new partnership is Avoca’s shared belief that the wool growers of this rare heritage Irish breed deserve to be rewarded for their dedication.

The Galway Wool Co-op is proud to announce that a trade price of €2.50 per kilo will be achieved for the fifth year running. This consistent price honours the hard work and care of growers who are helping to preserve this rare breed.

These farmers – drawing wool from the four corners of Ireland – take pride in presenting their fleeces in the pristine, rolled traditional manner, upholding a vital part of our cultural and agricultural heritage.

‘The Galway’ is officially recognised as Ireland’s Native Breed, thanks to over 103 years of commitment from a small group of dedicated farmers.

They began maintaining the breed’s flock book at a time when many of Ireland’s weaving and spinning mills were producing world renowned Aran sweaters from this unique Báinín yarn.

That was before they shifted towards imported Merino wool from as far afield as China and South Africa. Against the odds, these farmers –  supported by the Dept. of Agriculture – have grown their breed society into one of the largest in the country.

While overall flock numbers remain modest, renewed interest in the Galway’s distinctive Báinín wool and remarkably succulent lamb has given a welcome boost to efforts to ensure the survival and revival of this important part of Ireland’s agricultural heritage.

The Meitheal [a traditional Irish gathering for communal work] celebrates the revival of native Irish wool from The Galway Sheep breed, and rural collaboration.

This year, with Avoca Woollen Mills on board, the event represents a powerful step toward sustainable Irish-made from locally sourced wool into textiles and increased market opportunities for wool growers of this treasured breed across Ireland.

“We are thrilled to partner with Avoca, a brand that shares our passion for quality and Irish tradition. This collaboration gives a national platform to our wool growers and demonstrates the strength of a community-based wool harvest,” said Blátnaid Gallagher of the Galway Wool Co-op.

The 5th Annual Meitheal will feature wool handling demonstrations, spinning workshop – an artisan showcase of the many applications and iterations of native Irish yarn from The Galway breed.

Pictured: Blátnaid Gallagher, Ballinasloe, showing her hogget ram at a Galway Sheep Breeders Show and Sale in Athenry. On this coming Saturday, July 19, the wool from ‘The Galways’ will have its showcase morning in Athenry Mart from 9.30 to 11.30. PHOTO: HANY MARZOUK.