Donegal tweed

Towards the end of the eighteenth century, The Royal Linen Manufacturers of Ulster distributed approximately six thousand flax spinning wheels and sixty looms for weaving to various Donegal homesteads.

[1] Although Donegal tweed has been manufactured for centuries it took on its modern form in the 1880s, largely due to the pioneering work of English philanthropist Alice Rowland Hart.

He continued using the outworkers to make tweed, but in order to improve quality, he established a system of sending out patterns and materials to these workers.

The number of weavers (both in-house and out workers) greatly increased, and he began the process of making Donegal tweed an international brand.

In 1966, he also established a large factory in Donegal Town manufacturing ready-to-wear men's clothes, which at its peak employed approximately 300 people.

The entire Mulhern family have dedicated their lives to protecting and nurturing the skill, craft and heritage of the traditional Donegal Tweed.

He normally has a long Celtic face with good long-fingered hands, a highly sensitive touch, an inherent feeling for colour, amazingly dexterous feet and an inbuilt sense of rhythm.

This freedom of movement is vigorously displayed in the skilful dancing of jigs and reels at the weaver's parties held each year in Donegal Town.