Aran Islands – Inisheer: What better way to learn about Irish knitting than on Inisheer, one of the famous Aran Islands!
The entire island is almost 8km squared and has a population of approximately 300. Like the other islands the spoken language is Irish although the locals can usually speak both English and Irish. One of our tours of the island will visit all the local attractions including Áras Éanna Arts Centre which has an exhibition about the traditional clothes made and worn on the Aran islands including the famous Aran Sweater.
Una McDonagh was born and raised on Inis Oirr, Aran Islands, she teaches knitting the Aran Islands way
Una has been teaching for us for many years. Typically she introduces the class with a short historical presentation of island life, traditions, clothing, knitting, and its influence on the island economy through the ages and especially on women's lives. She also includes a guided island tour to complete the experience and give people a sense of the beauty and uniqueness of their surroundings.
Carol Feller Knitting Class with Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches & Contemporary Irish Knits
Carol has travelled the world teaching in yarn shops and fibre festivals, including Knit Nation in London, Edinburgh Yarn Festival and Unwind. The classes she teaches cover a wide range of subjects from cables and chart reading, through garment shaping and customisation right through to short rows and colourwork.
Connemara is a region in western Ireland, along the Wild Atlantic Way.
It has a varied and rugged coastline with many small coves, bays and quaint fishing villages like Roundstone. Connemara National Park is an enormous area of mountains, bogland and lakes. Our tours of Connemara often visit Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful Benedictine monastery founded in the 1920’s.
The Museum of Country Life is located in Turlough County Mayo in Ireland
The museum exhibits the way of life of rural Irish people between 1850 and 1950. There are exhibitions about the home, the natural environment, trades and crafts, communities, and working on the land and water. Of particular interest to our knitting tour groups are the exhibitions on traditional clothing and how they were made in the home.
Knitting Workshop with Anne O'Maille: Proprietor of O’Mailles, one of Ireland’s oldest knitwear stores
Anne has been teaching knitting classes for many years. She is the proprietor of O’Mailles, one of Ireland’s oldest knitwear stores which famously kitted out the cast of The Quiet Man. In her workshops, using her own patterns she encourage pupils to take on the challenges of complex knitting, Irish style.
Kerry Woollen Mills: Visit Kerry Woollen Mills where fabrics and yarns have been created for over 300 years.
Remaining faithful to the traditions of its founders, todays mill takes advantage of up-to-date weaving technology, marrying tradition with contemporary styling for today’s discerning customers in Ireland and overseas. A tour of the mill is visual, educational and fun. It follows the path from opening of the wool fleece, teasing, dyeing, carding, spinning, weaving and finishing.
Ring of Kerry: One of Ireland’s most popular and most scenic driving routes.
The Ring of Kerry is a charming circular drive around the stunning Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry in the Southwest of Ireland. It is more than 170km long, and takes in serene lakes, rugged seascapes and picturesque rural villages.
Blarney Castle & Blarney Woollen Mills Store: Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork.
Most famous for its stone of eloquence which when kissed is legend to bestow the ‘Gift of the Gab’! On our tours we try to allow time to visit the nearby Blarney Woollen Mills Store which stocks Irish Gifts, Wool & Aran sweaters, Irish Crystal and Celtic Jewellery.
Hedgehog Fibres: An Irish artisan yarn and fibre dyeing studio located in Co. Cork. They produce high quality yarn in vibrant colours.
The owners personal style is reflected in the colours of Hedgehog Fibres yarn and the colours vary from dark, rich and earthy to crazy, fluorescent and vibrant depending on her moods.
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